Centenarians

I love to learn about other cultures, their habits and their demeanor. I am currently reading a book called The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner. It explores four regions of the globe where there are an unusually high rate of people living 100 years or more. The centenarians in these regions are still active and healthy. The author attempts to dissect the reasons for the longevity in their lifespan. It is a very telling book about discovering the fountain of youth, so to speak, what works and what doesn't.

The descriptions of the centenarians in the four regions were very interesting, but I was not surprised by the author's discoveries. In essence, the common thread that he found in each of these regions was that the people work hard but take time to relax with their family and friends every day. They have a purpose and meaning to their life, a reason to get up each day and to get going. They eat a primarily plant based diet with a few servings of meat each week. They work out in the sun, which improves their mood and gives them Vitamin D to support strong bones and organs. Finally, they devote time to spiritual growth through meditation, prayer, and regular church attendance.

My two grandmothers and many of my great-aunts (I come from a large German Catholic family) are still living an active and healthy life. They range in age from 85 to 100. I am happy to have their genes. It is interesting to me that only the women are left with the exception of one great uncle, the one that did not smoke. Honestly, that is the only difference between the men and the women. Anyway, I can say that all of the aforementioned characteristics of the centenarians are shared by my grandmothers and great-aunts. They worked very hard chopping cotton, raising many kids, eating from their gardens, and devoting their lives to God and their faith. They are truly amazing women, and I feel extremely blessed to still have them in my life.

I think our Western culture has gotten its priorities out of whack. In our struggle to have everything our heart desires, we have ignored our basic needs. We have everything at our disposal, and yet we are never satisfied. I encourage you to examine your own list of priorities, and maybe rearrange them if necessary, so that you can live a long and fulfilling life. Maybe you won't live to be 100, but wouldn't it be nice at the end of your life to know that you made a difference in the lives of your family and friends, to not have suffered from any debilitating diseases or illnesses, and to just drift off to the next world one night in your sleep...sounds like heaven to me.