Some sage advice from a California grandmother has been viewed by over 14.9 million people online.
Aislinn Cushing (@aiscush) posted a clip on TikTok of the raw wisdom from her 87-year-old grandma during a family dinner. “As soon as she began speaking, I instinctively reached for my phone,” Cushing told Newsweek.
@aiscush
“I don’t feel 87; I don’t think 87,” Elaine Neuwirth said in the clip. “I feel and think like I’m still 60, sometimes 50 and sometimes 22.”
Having a purpose is key. The grandma urged people to take care of themselves mentally, physically and emotionally.
“The most-important thing as you get older is you have to stay involved,” Neuwirth continued. “You have to use your brain [by] interacting with other people.”
Cushing, from Colorado, said that there is rarely a conversation that is off limits in her family.
“I knew people needed to hear what she was hearing. We often think life stops as you get older,” the 27-year-old said. “If her words can help shift even just one person’s perspective and provide courage to live your life to the fullest, then we will continue to share our journey.”
According to her granddaughter, Neuwirth turns heads everywhere she goes—and has lived a fulfilling life.
“She’s sharp, impossibly wise, and never sugarcoats the truth—but somehow manages to deliver it with warmth and wit,” Cushing said. “She is a woman who’s lived many lives, but never wavered in her sense of self.”
As well as the millions of views, the clip amassed more than 3.4 million likes and over 12,000 comments.
Users all over TikTok were obsessed with Neuwirth’s advice. “I could listen to her all day,” one user wrote.
“Best thing I’ve seen today,” another added.
A third commenter posted: “My mom is 87 and says all the same things. She still lives independently, drives. She’s busier and more social than I am.”
The viral clip is also deeply aligned with the multigenerational legacy Cushing and her mother are building through their fashion brand, OURS.
For Cushing, one lesson from her grandmother stands above the rest: “Her reminder that shrinking yourself to keep others comfortable is a disservice to who you are.
“She has this beautiful way of validating your experiences while simultaneously challenging you to rise above them. Her words are both grounding and empowering.”
Neuwirth is also leaning into her newfound online fame and is well aware she has become an internet “muse.”
“The positivity and vulnerability in the comments section is an encouraging reminder that social media can drive incredible connection and community,” Cushing added.