Die Young at a Very Old Age
The quote "Die young at a very old age" is often attributed to American comedian and actor, George Burns. Burns lived to the age of 100 and was known for his sharp wit and humor, even in his later years.
Most people would say that they would like to live to 100, however, there’s always a caveat. Only IF they could be healthy.
Nobody wants to grow old with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, or any of the other maladies that assault us in old age.
How can we die young at a very old age? Dan Buettner, the author of The Blue Zones set out on a quest to find people who were doing just that.
Blue Zones are regions of the world where people tend to live longer, healthier lives. Buettner identified five regions that met certain criteria related to longevity and health. These regions are:
Okinawa, Japan
Sardinia, Italy
Nicoya, Costa Rica
Icaria, Greece
Loma Linda, California (a community of Seventh-day Adventists)
In each of these regions, people tend to live longer and experience lower rates of chronic disease than in other parts of the world.
What’s going on in these regions? What are the lifestyle and environmental factors that contribute to this healthy longevity?
Buettner identified nine factors, or lifestyle habits, that were endemic to these regions. The good news is that all of these habits can easily be adopted in our lives.
Move Naturally
Move without thinking about it. Go for long walks, and engage in some kind of physical work. Make moving fun. The good news here is that we don’t have to get a gym membership.
80% Rule - “Hara hachi bu”
According to Buettner, the elders in Okinawa will say this before meals which means to stop eating when you’re stomach is 80% full. Remember that at Thanksgiving.
Plant-Based Diets
Most of these regions aren’t populated with fast-food restaurants and processed foods. They live closer to nature than we do. Their diets are primarily plant-based.
Limited Alcohol Consumption
A daily drink or two has been associated with longevity, however all things in moderation. People in Blue Zones moderate their alcohol consumption and limit it to a glass of wine or Sake with a meal.
Purpose
People in the Blue Zones know why they wake up in the morning and use their gifts in the service of others.
Downshift
Instead of waiting for the annual vacation to reduce stress, which usually increases it, Blue Zone cultures intentionally create activities for stress reduction.
Belonging to a Faith Community
Some forms of spiritual growth and development seem to be essential for a long and happy life. People in the Blue Zones make this a community activity.
Loved Ones First
Dr. Robert Waldinger is a psychiatrist and a researcher at Harvard Medical School who directed the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest studies of adult life ever conducted found that having strong, supportive relationships with friends, family, and partners was one of the most important factors in leading a happy and healthy life.
Right Tribe
We all live longer, happier lives when we’re with people who lift us up instead of bringing us down. We should choose our friends carefully.
What can we learn from the Blue Zones? Maybe we could do a personal checklist to see which of the lifestyle habits are missing from our life. It’s obvious that most of them are missing from our culture, but we can’t change the culture.
We can create our own personal culture and turn that cliche, “The Golden Years” into a reality.