They have purpose
In Blue Zone areas, the town elders keep busy, whether that means going to a family gathering, taking care of their great-grandkids, or, in the case of a northern Okinawan village, taking part in a culturally cherished craft. As researchers for the Okinawa Centenarian Study write, “Traditional basho-fu weaving helps these older women maintain an active engagement with life as healthy and productive members of society, a role that has been culturally sanctioned and has taken on moral importance in Japan’s rapidly ageing society.” They found that 78 out of the 94 women (age 65 or older) they surveyed were involved in the production process of this highly revered (and marketed) craft in some way, whether it was washing the fibres, spooling, dying, or weaving. A 101-year-old subject, who still took part by spooling, told them, “They [the basho-fu network] still need me. Not so many of us do the spooling any more. Just the old ones like me.”
Dr Jeste, who found similar attitudes with the centenarians in Southern Italy, believes that this feeling of purpose makes matters less stressful when challenges inevitably arise. “When they believe they need to be here for their family, children, land, or some other purpose, they’re less likely to give up,” he explains.
They stay positive
The habits and surroundings of centenarians vary from country to country, but the one specific thing that they have in common is their positivity. When difficult situations arise, whether it’s the death of a loved one or illness, they’re resilient, they adapt, and they stay optimistic. This optimism is evident in centenarian studies around the world. A 2016 study of Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians suggests this positivity works in conjunction with higher levels of self-perceived health, which seems to have protected centenarians from depression and perhaps other diseases. And when you avoid disease, you have a better chance at a good, long life.
Sign up here to get Reader’s Digest’s favourite stories straight to your inbox!
Source: RD.com
