The Secret to a Long and Healthy Life

Modern life has conspired to break us down as we age. We slow down. We gain weight. We lose the ambition we had in our youth. It becomes much more likely that we will develop a serious disease, such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. Some people become overweight, and/or develop these diseases earlier than others. Some people never develop them and live to a ripe old age. What’s the difference? Why do some people live into their nineties and beyond in good health. I saw recently where David Attenborough, the famed BBC filmmaker is 93 and is still turning out top notch video documentaries. What’s his secret?

Unfortunately, Sir David has not passed his secret along to me. However, I can make an educated guess, based on watching some of his films. First, he is engaged in work that he cares deeply about, the preservation of the natural world. By drawing the public’s attention to the wonders of nature and the threats to those very wonders by the actions of humanity, he is having a significant effect on the public’s perception of the natural places that he films and the animals that inhabit them.

Second, he remains physically active, traveling to the far corners of the world to record his narration of his films in the wild places where his stories occur. Activity is essential for continued health and strength. Our bodies don’t want to waste any of our precious resources. If we don’t use a muscle, it withers. The same is true for brain cells. Regarding any part of your body or mind, if you don’t want to lose it, you had better use it.

Although Sir David has a challenging work schedule, with deadlines and budget constraints, I suspect that he is relatively free of chronic stress. He is doing work that he enjoys. Heaven knows, he doesn’t have to work. He could have retired decades ago. The fact that he is still working is a strong sign that his work is not stressful, and neither is the rest of his life. What can we say about Sir David?

• His work takes him to some of the most spectacularly beautiful places on the planet. Beauty is a life and health enhancer.
• He is forced to maintain good health practices in order to be able to do the work he loves. This means that in addition to getting regular exercise, he must also be eating healthy foods.
• He is in charge. He doesn’t have to meet the expectations of anyone other than himself.
• All the people involved in the production of his films provide him with social support. They are his “family.”

If you are doing what you want to do,

if you avoid chronic stress,

if you get adequate sleep and exercise,

then you could thrive like David Attenborough. You could stay vibrant, alive, and productive for your entire life, checking out while your next major project is still on the horizon.

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