Can You Live to be 100?

Dan Buettner, an explorer and National Geographic contributor , was featured in a TED podcast entitled, “How to Live to be 100+”. He travelled the globe to find “Blue Zones” - population pockets where people live an average of 10 years longer without the levels of cancer and heart disease we seemed to be plagued with. Once they identified these areas they synthesized what they learned from the lifestyles and came up with a list of “secrets to a longer, healthier life” they called the Power9. As you might expect, a few were related to diet and exercise. Eat more of a plant-based diet. Drink wine in moderation. Eat less (the 80% Rule says stop eating when you’re 80% full). And keep moving.

What I didn’t expect was that more than half the “secrets” would deal with social constructs. For instance, the people in the Blue Zones had a strong purpose for life. One group had a specific word for that purpose, yet no word for retirement. The groups averaged at least six close friends that one zone referred to as their Moai. (In the US, the average number of close friends has dropped over the last 15 years from three to one and a half). They took time to shut down daily to relax even if it was for only 15 minutes. At least one group observed a strict 24 hour Sabbath where they focused on God with prayer, shared meals and nature walks. And all of them focused on all generations of their family as well as their tribe.

It’s probably still too close to New Year’s resolutions to ask you about your diet and exercise. But what about your purpose?
- Do you have an “ikigai”?
- Do you have a time where you daily shut everything off to reflect and refresh?
- Do you have a strong network of friends at various levels?
- Is your family a priority?
- Do you have a strong faith?

The author says that we have very little chance to live to 100. But he does believe we can influence the length and quality of our lives by following the Power9. I think he’s right. What do you think?