- A 95-year-old grandmother’s mental health advice went viral.
- She emphasized focusing on small tasks and rewarding oneself.
- Her advice helped people, with some saying it motivated them to act.
A heartfelt video featuring Christine Symes, a 95-year-old former teacher, offering simple mental health advice has captured the hearts of millions on TikTok. Posted by her granddaughter, artist Christina Symes, the video has garnered nearly four million views since its upload on July 26.
The advice, recorded a year earlier, resurfaced when Christina stumbled upon the clip while revisiting old photos. In the video, Christine encourages focusing on the present. “Look at yourself in the mirror, wash your face, put your makeup on, put your clothes on, and then say, ‘What must I do next?’” she says, suggesting small tasks like having breakfast or a cup of tea to build momentum.
Christine also emphasizes rewarding oneself. “Say, ‘I’ve done those things, and I can take pride in the fact I’ve done them.’ Never mind what happened years ago or what’s coming in the future,” she advises.
Christina’s accompanying message, “My 95-year-old gran gave me this advice. Thought someone else might need to hear it too,” resonated with TikTok users, inspiring messages of gratitude and personal stories. Christina revealed that people have told her, “Hearing this video made me get out of bed finally.”
Living with her grandmother in Eastbourne after personal struggles, Christina credits Christine as her biggest supporter. “She’s basically my best friend,” Christina shared.
Christine, surprised by her viral fame, said, “If anything I say is good for people in the present world, I’m glad I’ve said it.” She added, “It’s important for people to feel they matter, especially in bad times.”
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