Rules For Living Longer

I just finished the book The Longevity Project,which identifies discoveries about who lives longest and why, from an ongoing eight-decade study started by Stanford University psychologist Dr. Lewis Terman in 1921 and finished by Dr. Friedman and Dr. Martin after Terman died mid-way through.  The book sums it up by saying (spoiler alert):

Across the life span, many predictors emerged as to who would do better and who would do worse, who would live longer and who would die younger.  It was not good cheer or being popular and outgoing that made the difference.  It was also not those who took life easy, played it safe, or avoided stress who lived the longest.  Rather, it was those who – through an often-complex pattern of persistence, prudence, hard work, and close involvement with friends and communities – headed down meaningful, interesting paths and, as we have illustrated, found their way back to these healthy paths each time they were pushed off the road.

I think this is a great lesson for us.  We live our current lives with so many rules to “guide” us and it’s so hard not to get overwhelmed doing what we think is the right thing.  We are told what to eat, what not to eat.  How and when to exercise.  Where to live, how to live.  What pills to take, what pills to avoid.  Think positive.  Avoid stress.  And on and on and on.  We see people doing everything right, yet committing suicide.  We see people doing everything wrong, yet living til they’re in their 90’s.  How do we know what to believe?  So I like the conclusion of this study because it takes us back to the simplicity of living.  Our lives must have purpose.  And we must be good at getting back on the horse when we’re knocked off.  So now we can ignore all the chatter from “experts” who tell us what to do and what not to do, and start living our most meaningful lives.