The Wisest Road To Longevity—And It's Free!

Longevity is a big topic these days. A Google search on the word delivers countless articles, diets, calculators, health plans, university studies, and a dizzying array of longevity "activators" commonly known as supplements.

If you're someone who hopes to live a comfortable, long life, and makes an effort to stay well, congratulations! It means you find value and purpose in your life. Chances are, you also believe you deserve to be here for as long as possible.

For some people, prioritizing wellness and gratitude as precursors to a long life is enough of a regimen. But for others, the fear of death may drive them to latch onto the latest hopeful promises, including treating themselves to light therapies, cold-water immersion tanks, hanging upside down, intermittent fasting, and countless other "life-extending" practices.

You don't have to be old to fear death. Unfortunately, very little of what's being marketed today as longevity hacks has been backed by science. Some popular longevity supplements are now known to pose health risks. For instance, when science pronounced that long telomeres indicated a longer lifespan, telomerase supplements appeared on the market promoting a longer lifespan. Then, new science showed that shorter telomeres were linked to organ failure, and longer ones to a variety of benign tumors, cancers, and other chronic health conditions.

Hope can lead anyone into temptation. And good advertising can hook even the most hard-nosed skeptics. It's no surprise you can find a supermarket of YouTube videos, each featuring their own AI-generated, non-existent doctor who claims to have the secret sauce to your longevity, weight loss, healthy teeth, perfect eyesight, and a sharper brain. Those who've fallen prey to such fool's gold end up locked into a subscription plan they can't get out of. Worse, many such expensive formulas have made people sick.

But don't lose hope. The word "longevity" is itself an acronym for proven steps that will enable you, free of charge, to live a very productive life into your golden years and well beyond.

1. LOVE: Give love and receive it.

Top of the list is love. Loving someone or even something, like your work, gives you a purpose in life and a reason to keep going. Young or old, love makes people feel vital, purposeful, and alive. Through the body/mind connection, the body responds in kind.

Give love a chance. Make it part of your day, every day. Hug and kiss someone, even if it's just your pet. If you don't have that luxury, give some love to people you meet throughout the day—a compliment, a smile, a listening ear. It all adds up, and you'll feel better at the end of the day.

2. OPENNESS: Be open to life's changes.

It's no secret that we all live in a challenging world. There are countless stress factors that can feel depressing. And yet, the body is highly adaptable. But what about your mind? You might know the answer by considering how open you are to new challenges. Do you work with life's disruptions and go with the flow, or do you fight unpleasant shifts in life tooth and nail?

Being mentally open to change, without judgment, keeps stress hormones at bay and naturally keeps your body open and flowing as nature intended.

3. NATURE: Bond with nature.

This is perhaps the easiest step to integrate into your day. Go outside! Breathe, walk, do some gardening, talk to a plant, appreciate the birds and bees, listen to the wind, soak in the sun, feel the breeze, watch the sun set, look at the stars, and make a wish. Spending time in nature releases the hormone melatonin which, in turn, triggers neurotransmitters like serotonin and endorphins, which promote relaxation and, bonus, help regulate a healthy sleep-wake cycle.

Nature is a powerful healer. Find simple ways to bond with nature every day. If you can't spend time outdoors, appreciate the outdoors through a window, taking time to observe the hummingbirds, roaming cats, butterflies, and trees on the horizon.

4. GENERATION: Generate something new.

Everything in nature grows and evolves. So do we. Our bodies are continuously replacing old cells with new ones to the tune of 3 billion cells per day. In the span of approximately 3 months, the turnover of our cells amounts to 30 trillion, giving us virtually a new self. In other words, to stay healthy and live a long life, generating new cells is an essential bodily function. But what if your spirit needs to generate something new as well. Has that been studied?

A study out of the University of Rochester Medical Center found that individuals high in creativity maintain the integrity of their neural networks even into old age and live longer if they continue to create. Whether it's a new painting, music composition, an essay, sewing a new dress, or making a fun video, the human spirit is a muse that pushes us to generate something new to bring into the world.  So draw, craft, write, make something new—even if you just conjure it in your mind to keep your neurons firing.

5. ENTERTAINMENT: Have fun and laugh!

It's likely that everyone living today would enjoy the freedom to have fun and be entertained all day long. Intuitively, we know it's good for our soul. This may be the reason we're likely to spend more time with friends who make us laugh. Laughter is, after all, healing. We don't really need science to prove it; we experience it. We know the energy surge that comes from laughter. We know how it pushes troubles aside, diminishes our pain, and lightens our load.

We've all heard the expression, he who laughs, lasts. Even long ago, people understood the healing power of laughter. Voltaire, the eighteenth-century philosopher said, "The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." So, as George Carlin said, "Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath." If friends don't make you laugh, YouTube provides endless videos of cats, dogs, parrots, squirrels, bunnies, and entertaining humans that will keep you in stitches. It may well be your cheapest way to attain longevity.

6. VIRTUE: Be your best.

Have you ever caught yourself saying something snarky to someone else? Or, maybe you've wasted time gossiping about someone and laughing over it, only to feel guilty later. What does this have to do with longevity? Quite simply, we feel better when we're kind and thoughtful toward others. Being virtuous also attracts the admiration of others, which, on its own, uplifts us and gives us a better social life.

A virtuous mindset inspires us to do our best in every area of our lives. It can include seemingly insignificant things such as making our bed in the morning or keeping the kitchen clean. It can also influence us to look our best by keeping fit or simply wearing a smile on our face. When we do anything that cultivates our best self, we are stretching our brain beyond the confines of our usual self and giving it one of the most challenging workouts it can receive. Keep doing puzzles, but being virtuous alleviates much suffering, brings self-respect, and helps you sleep well at night—all contributors to a longer lifespan.

7. INNER VOICE: Embrace it.

If you're curious about why an unexpected thought suddenly pops into your head, it's likely your inner voice trying to protect you. Distinct from intuition, the inner voice is much like an inner compass that tries to point you in the right direction. It's so subtle it can easily be dismissed, but if its message is urgent, it will make its needs known through your own thoughts and nag you until you take a necessary action—or avoid one you're planning to take.

Although the inner voice has not been scientifically studied, there is compelling anecdotal evidence to suggest everyone is blessed with it. Embracing its guidance takes practice, but you'll first have to accept its existence—and benevolence. If you can do that, you'll find yourself paying more attention to what it has to say. So take your earbuds out and let the voice within talk to you instead of the latest podcast. Your inner voice is a higher intelligence working within you. It's fully aware of your personal biology and, more than any known experts, it can accurately guide you to achieve a healthier, longer life.

8. TRUTH: Uphold the truth.

It's difficult to know what's true anymore, but upholding the truth is an important key to longevity. It's not just about knowing the risks of any wellness step you're about to take; it's also about appreciating the mental health benefits of being true to yourself. And, yes, it's also about being truthful with others.

If you're wondering how truth impacts longevity, consider what happens when you fall for a scam that promises to fix a pesky health condition but lands you in the hospital instead. Then consider how often egregious mistakes are made in hospitals where the truth is denied to the victim's family.

Lies are harmful, whether you're on the receiving end, or the one who must lie to meet your boss's needs. Being genuine with others is simply good karma, too. Even though cheating, scamming, and defrauding others have become an acceptable new norm, avoid this behavior at all costs to ensure the same doesn't come back to haunt you.

9. YOU: It's up to you. (Youtropolis can help!)

Although there are many roads to longevity, only you can decide which road fits your needs, habits, and pocketbook best. What we offer here is an easy path with no cost. If you want to receive some love, post an amusement for your tribe to enjoy. If change is difficult, reach out to your tribe for support. If you're stuck in a windowless office, find nature-oriented posts under Amusements to uplift your spirits.  

You'll live longer if you find ways to make others laugh, but it's nice to find time to laugh with them, too. Be kind and thoughtful before sending that rude email. Let your inner voice keep you out of trouble. Life is complicated, but you can simplify it by making a pledge to be your best self and allowing your tribe to hold your feet to the fire. By doing these things both online and off, you will be well on your way to living a long and healthy life.