I count myself as lucky! My dad’s mum lived with poise to 100 years old. My mum is approaching 98 years old, and she could easily surpass one hundred years, and then my mother-in-law has just turned 95 (that’s another story). Living gracefully into a ripe old age without major illness is a blessing!
If a person is able to perfect lifestyle which frankly is an almighty task, then good luck to them. Striving to improve lifestyle will provide the impetus to live a long and healthy existence.
One of my grandad’s sisters lived to 103 years old. It isn’t just about age though, as living a healthy lifestyle and having a healthspan of worthy proportions makes the experience much better.
We can learn from people who live to a ripe old age by watching their habits, implementing their tried and tested formulas, what they eat, how they spend their days, and listening to their wisdom.
Some of the healthiest places to live in the world include countries like Japan and Spain, as well as specific cities like Valencia and Okinawa. These places are known for their healthy diets, lifestyles, and social connections.
Japan is considered to have one of the healthiest diets in the world, and often ranks highly in healthy country lists. Okinawa is a Japanese island where residents have a low incidence of chronic illness and heart disease.
Spain is home to Valencia, which was named one of the healthiest cities in the world in 2022; known for its mild climate, lots of greenery, and fresh air.
New Zealand is home to Auckland, which has a thriving culinary scene and lots of green spaces.
Blue zones are regions where people live longer than the rest of the world. These areas are known for their healthy lifestyles, which include physical activity, social interactions, and a plant-based diet.
Lifestyle characteristics
Diet: People in blue zones eat mostly plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, tofu, lentils, nuts, and seeds.
Exercise: People in blue zones are physically active.
Stress: People in blue zones have low stress levels.
Social interactions: People in blue zones have rich social interactions.
Fasting: People in blue zones fast or restrict their caloric intake.
Alcohol: People in blue zones avoid alcohol or drink it in moderation.
Of course, I have my own theory which includes not taxing the body and mind too much while incorporating exercise, sleeping early, taking cold showers, deep breathing, spiritual awareness, and many other snippets like social interaction. A key element is constant monitoring to balance variety and limitations.
The bottom line is everyone needs to find the best way to cope, prosper, and carve a lifestyle that sits well to one’s character.
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Vocabulary builder:
with poise (adv) = self-assuredly, confidently, assertively, boldly
Snippets (n) = scraps, oddments, wastes, leftovers, odds and ends, bits and pieces, bits and bobs, extracts, pieces, bits
Carve (v) = slice, pare, whittle, cut, shape, fashion, sculpt, cut in slices
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