The BHRT team visited the Vlašić village of Mudrike, where Zejna Mehić celebrated her 100th birthday. This vital centenarian, born in July 1926, has behind her a century of life filled with work, and today she considers her large family her greatest asset.
Zejna has as many as 119 descendants – children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
“There are 119 of us in total. That’s two busloads of people. Among them are 11 great-great-grandchildren,” says her son Ferid Mehić with a smile, while Zejna adds: “You see what I experienced.”
She spent her whole life working
After marriage, she spent her life in Vlašić, working on the farm together with her husband. They were never employed in a company, but lived from agriculture, animal husbandry and their own work.
“When I came, they were working and sowing. If you sow, you will have, if you don’t sow, you will have nothing. I loved to work, and my husband loved to work too,” recalls Zejna.
Two hip surgeries in her later years
Despite her age, Zejna has maintained incredible vitality. She has had two hip surgeries, and after the first one she returned to her daily tasks after just a few months.
“Her findings were excellent. She has no sugar, no fat, no problems with blood pressure. She underwent the surgery at the age of 99 and was walking again very quickly. Today she walks with the help of canes, but she is still independent,” says her son Ferid.
And she herself confirms that she can still take care of herself.
“I can do everything myself,” says Zejna.
Recipe for a long life
The Mehić family lives at about a thousand meters above sea level, where they breed geese and cultivate traditional knowledge about preparing homemade food, ointments and tinctures.
Ferid says that it was from his mother that he learned many of the skills that he passes on today.
“She told me: “Do what your elders tell you, be quiet and absorb knowledge.” That has stayed with me my whole life,” she recalls.
When asked what the secret of her longevity is, the answer is self-evident – clean mountain air, healthy water, natural food, daily work and living in harmony with nature.
For Zejna Mehić, success is not just living to be a hundred years old, but filling it with family, work and health.
