LIFESTYLE AUTHOR
Aja Webber
FINDING YOUR TRIBE: THE IMPORTANCE OF BELONGING n Eating well and exercising can increase longevity, but strong
relationships and community are also essential — here’s why.
A
lthough eating right and exercising is great for longevity in terms of mental and physical health, there is another often forgotten way to keep yourself feeling at your best, especially with age. A sense of belonging and purpose is essential to living a happy and fulfilling life, and this is why having strong community involvement and close relationships is so important. You’re probably already more involved with your community than you think. Whether it be visiting a gym, going to dinner with friends, watching a movie with family or complimenting a stranger, these are all things that contribute to one’s sense of belonging. If you haven’t heard of Blue Zones, you’re probably not alone. Blue Zones are areas in the world where people have been found to live the longest — and not just live, but live with happiness and contentment. There are a variety of factors that contribute to this phenomenon, but the main three commonalities of these areas are diet, exercise and purpose. National Geographic Fellow, award-winning journalist and producer Dan Buettner explains on the Blue Zones website that community and family are
AUGUST 2021
the focal aspect of a centenarian’s (a person that lives beyond 100 years) life. Many centenarians spend a lot of time and effort keeping their relationships with their families strong. This love and effort is often reciprocated in old age. “Children are likely to keep their aging parents nearby and to consider them to be founts of wisdom that will favor their own survival,” Buettner states on the website. Having a community, such as being a part of a religion or local organization, is also a common practice amongst the Blue Zones in the world. One study based on a sample of 5,449 middle-aged Americans from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found a significant link between religious affiliation and longevity, due to the sense of community. The authors took into account socioeconomic factors, health insurance status and other health habits, such as alcohol consumption and eating preferences. The goal of this study was to investigate the link between attending religious ceremonies and long-term health.
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