Centenarian Sensation: ‘Tiny the Dancer’ Shimmies into her 100th Birthday Bash! – Milestones and Longevity

Reaching Life's Milestones

• A Massachusetts woman known for her love of dancing is turning 100, and her local town will dedicate her birthday to her. The day is designated “Tiny the Dancer Day.”
• Longevity is worth celebrating and acknowledging, which usually brings about gratitude among those involved.
• Gratitude means being thankful for what you have and showing appreciation for it. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, several studies have indicated that learning to live with gratitude can lead to more happiness and less stress.
• One way to exercise gratitude is to take time to think about things you appreciate every day. One way to exercise gratitude in your life includes writing down those things in a journal.
• Reaching milestones such as a monumental birthday or completing treatment if you’re battling cancer is a big deal. Milestones may also include things like getting engaged or the birth of a child. Usually, for patients, they may mean even more than they did previously. It’s a chance to celebrate all you’ve overcome.

A Massachusetts woman is on the cusp of becoming a centenarian, and her hometown is honoring her remarkable journey for her upcoming birthday. May 27 is declared “Tiny the Dancer Day” in recognition of Grace Maria Ferreira Catrambone, who is turning 100 and is locally revered for her unwavering love of dancing. Longevity in life is a blessing, which Catrambone doesn’t take for granted. “I have a ball,” Catrambone told Cape News, signaling one of her keys to reach the milestone birthday.

Catrambone is a native of Falmouth, Massachusetts, just minutes away from Cape Cod and an hour and a half drive south of Boston. Catrambone may be seen walking a quarter-mile to her beauty salon or the Dollar Store when the mother of two isn't on the dance floor vibing to Latin music. Catrambone has a comedic personality who loves laughing and being around people. “I love life, and I love people,” Catrambone said. She says of her good health, “I have no diabetes, I have no heart trouble.” WATCH: Healthy living tips for patients. Although she’s getting around well, she uses a walker for stability. She occasionally experiences pain in her right knee, which requires steroid shots. Also, 20 years ago, she suffered a concussion after hitting a pole while dancing. Despite these issues, Catrambone still attends dance classes three times a week at her local senior center. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Cantrambone will experience East Falmouth and dedicate her birthday to her. Without question, the centenarian anticipates enjoying herself as she continues to bask in her golden years.

Resources on Gratitude and Cancer

• 7 Cancer Survivors Share How Gratitude, Faith, & Seeking the Good In Life Help Give Them Strength
• How Can Gratitude Lead to a Healthier Mindset?
• Living in Gratitude

Milestones After Cancer

For cancer warriors and their families, reaching life’s milestones is a big deal. Milestones can be the birth of a child or grandchild, getting married, traveling on a dream vacation, reaching another birthday, or something else. Most importantly, these milestones during or after a cancer battle tend to have a more significant meaning because, often, cancer patients gain a greater sense of gratitude toward their lives. According to Cancer.net, patients and their support groups filled with loved ones may engage in some activities to help recognize and celebrate memorable milestones. These activities include planning a nice dinner or party-like gathering and spending time donating money or volunteering to a cancer charity. Perhaps the way you memorialize your cancer milestone could be independent of others. Examples include a solitary walk in nature and allowing your senses to take hold while you reflect.

How Gratitude Can Change a Cancer Patient's Outlook on Life

Many cancer patients who bravely shared their stories with SurvivorNet often talk about how grateful they are for the people and things that make them happy. Gratitude means being thankful for what you have and showing appreciation for it. It's a mindset that helps people going through tough times, and the experts SurvivorNet spoke with encourage cancer warriors and their loved ones to practice gratitude. Dr. Zuri Murrell , a colorectal cancer surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet that his patients who live with gratitude tend to handle treatment better because this attitude is one way to stay mentally healthy. WATCH: A multiple myeloma patient says practicing gratitude helped her journey. "The patients who do well with cancer live life with that kind of gratitude, but in terms of everything," he explained . "They're grateful, not for cancer, but they're grateful for an opportunity to know that life is finite." According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness , several studies have indicated that learning to live with gratitude can lead to more happiness and less stress. One way to exercise gratitude is to take time to think about things you appreciate every day. One way to exercise gratitude in your life includes writing down those things in a journal.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you are in the middle of a cancer journey and are looking to improve your emotional health, consider what you’re grateful for. To begin, ask yourself the following questions to kickstart your journey to achieve gratitude.

• What can I do if I'm struggling to be thankful for what I have in my life?
• Are there local resources for people wishing to improve their mental health?
• What else can I do to help reduce my stress level during my cancer journey?