A couple married 60 years says climbing ‘99 steps’ at Wethereal in Britain can change how you see life.

A lot of us in our 20s and 30s are worried sick about life, career, work, relationships, looks, and so much more. We forget what really matters, and decades down the line, we wish we’d have just lived through the simplest acts. A street interviewer named  Evan (Evan Bnormal) asked an octogenarian couple what they would like to do if they were 20 again, and they had a simple answer. The clip posted on March 3 revealed a “99 Steps” theory that comes from Wethereal, England. It is an important reminder for the youngsters swept up in worry about the future. 

 When Evan asked the duo what they’d like to do if they were 20, they didn’t say party, or earn more, or anything of the sort. The 85-year-old simply said, “Smile.” He noted how he hasn’t seen a single soul smile on the streets, and it's pushed him to wonder whether the world is really so caught up in the cruelty and battles of life that they can’t spot the little but significant good things. Even at their age, the couple seemed jolly and vibrant. After nearly 60 years of marriage, what matters most to them is each other. “I have all I need,” he said, looking at his wife. What they really had was love. That’s when the elderly woman chimed in with how youngsters can adopt the mindset. 

In England’s Wethereal, there’s a historical space called "The 99 steps.” The woman mentioned that the steps are unusually high, and looking at the height and the serious effort it will take to get there can feel debilitating. Life is like that; you think of where you’re at, freshly into adulthood or midway there, and see you still have a long way to go. You’re looking at your “99 steps” — possibly marriage, a good career, buying a home, raising kids, and whatnot. It all feels burdensome, even impossible. “But if you just look at one step and think, ‘I can do that,’” the woman explained, it makes the journey so much more fathomable. 

Sure, there’s a lot to do, but you don’t have to look at the whole thing right away. Look at the single step ahead of you, and take that. Then move to the next, and the next. As Evan replied, you won’t even know you completed it until you look up and you’re surprised. According to the American Psychological Association, a lot of young adults are drowning in mental health issues because they’re overwhelmed by the bigger picture. Gen Zs and young Millennials (between 18 and 34 years of age) reported an average stress level of 6 out of 10. This was nearly two times higher than what elderly people reported (3.5 out of 10). The survey found 18–34 and 35–44-year-olds more prone to feeling "consumed" by financial woes than those 65 and older (67% and 63% vs. 13%, respectively). This is probably because Baby Boomers are not directly dealing with the stress thrust upon 20-year-olds.

Just take the “99 steps” theory, look at the step ahead of you first, and it might just help you find joy in life and smile again. Peter Stutt said, “This couple has life's philosophy worked out.” Leanne Willoughby Art remarked, “What an inspirational message and a wonderful couple. One step at a time!” 

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