As I write this column early in the morning sitting on our deck, a symphony of birds keeps me company. The sounds remind me of something I read recently about what truly makes us live longer. We know that healthy eating, exercise and managing stress lengthen lifespan, but another integral factor is a deep relationship with nature. For the majority of time we’ve been on this planet, people and Mother Earth worked in synchrony, but the human-nature disconnect is increasingly getting worse, especially as addiction to technology and sedentary lifestyles increase. That being said, I’m a believer this can be reversed, but it takes awareness and passing along knowledge to younger generations.
When I was an educator, we were often reminded why early intervention and prevention leads to better results than remediation or retention. For instance, through progress monitoring, we could see which kindergartners were already struggling with pre-reading skills. Addressing those deficits immediately when they were four- and five-years old yielded much better long-term results than waiting until third grade when they failed their first End-of-Grade test. Research states that students who are not proficient by third grade will likely never read on grade level, and students who aren’t reading on grade level by the end of third grade are more likely to drop out of high school. It’s heartbreaking to think this vicious, life-altering cycle could’ve been prevented had someone put in the work earlier.
This same philosophy rings true for our health and wellness. America has become a nation of reactivity, of waiting until something happens before acting, of believing that everything is treatable with medication or surgery, of not wanting to put the work in early. Even if the pill or treatment provides relief, though it often doesn’t fix the core issue, it’s never as impactful or beneficial as preventing the problem or condition in the first place. Embracing a healthy lifestyle takes time and effort, but the rewards are huge.
Other regions of the world already have this dialed in. I’m sure by this point you’ve heard of the Blue Zones, pockets of people around the globe who live well beyond age 100. They’re called centenarians. These groups have similarities such as eating whole foods, regular movement, down time with friends and family, a sense of purpose, spirituality and so on. They perceive healthy habits and routines as honorable and necessary, whereas many Americans view the shift to a healthier life as punitive or exhausting.
Confucius once said, “A healthy man wants a thousand things, a sick man only wants one.” And isn’t that the truth? When we’re not feeling well, physically or mentally, it’s hard to think of anything else, but when we feel our best, dreams and future plans abound. With that in mind, why won’t more Americans put forth the effort to feel the best they can possibly feel?
Similar to the human-nature connection, other unique factors significantly impact our longevity. Fostering a sense of awe offers benefits such as lowering inflammation in the body. A sense of awe can be manifested through traveling to new places, being around children and animals, visiting natural phenomena such as waterfalls, canyons and other wonders of the earth. Learning a new skill, such as painting or playing an instrument, can also contribute to overall wellness. Similarly, creating anything — a meal, painting, jewelry, written story, DIY project — does far more than anything we consume. There is no content we can consume that does more for us mentally and physically than even a simple act of creation.
For most people, time starts to move faster with each passing year, but did you know we have the power to do something about it? Everything is more exciting and memorable the first time we do it, so by the time we enter middle age, we’ve already had most of the major “firsts” in our lives so everything starts to feel the same, and sameness is the enemy of time. The more each day feels like the previous day, the faster time blurs and speeds along, but the more unique we can make each day, even in small ways, the slower time moves along.
I’m feeling hints of autumn in the early morning air and am loving it. As we enter into perhaps the most beautiful season in Western North Carolina, find ways to make your life magical, get outside and allow nature to heal you. (Susanna Shetley is a writer and editor. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com)