HOW TO LIVE LONGER

A book, “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life,” discusses how the things that factor into living a long and healthy life aren’t limited to what you do physically. A study cited in the book has found that people at or near the age of 100 have similar personality traits that may have helped increase their lifespan. These are the two traits that people who live the longest seem to have in common:
1. A positive attitude. Long livers are generally optimistic, easygoing and extroverted. They like to laugh, and find humor in many things. (* Never making it to the bathroom in time, for example. That never gets old.)
2. A high degree of emotional awareness. This means they don’t bottle up their emotions, and make an effort to communicate how they feel to those around them.
* So, “Get off my lawn” actually helps you live longer?
* Positive attitude, emotional awareness. If this was true, Mr. Rogers would still be with us.
* I want to hear about the study of those 105-year-olds that do a shot of whiskey or a pack of cigarettes a day.
* Just for fun, here are some of the “Live Longer” stories we’ve covered:
SLEEP RIGHT, LIVE LONGER
STOP USING YOUR BRAIN AND LIVE LONGER
DO HOUSEWORK, LIVE LONGER
PLAY TENNIS, LIVE LONGER
PEOPLE WHO EAT CHILI PEPPERS LIVE LONGER
SCIENCE: GO TO CONCERTS, LIVE LONGER
GO TO CHURCH, LIVE LONGER
SPICY FOODS HELP YOU LIVE LONGER
WALKERS LIVE 16 YEARS LONGER