On March 27, 1513, Juan Ponce de León, a young Spanish explorer, landed on the coast of Florida in search of the Fountain of Youth. He had heard that drinking water from this spring would give one eternal youth. Unfortunately, he never found it. Eight years later, wounded in a battle with the natives, de León died.
Five hundred years later, people still search for the secret of youth and longevity, though in much different ways. Science is slowly unraveling the secrets of centenarians. AARP reports that “there are an estimated 90,000 centenarians living in the U.S. It’s a small percentage of the population, yes, but it’s a number that’s expected to keep increasing. By 2060, there could be about 600,000 people who are 100 or older.”1
The secret to longevity consists of but two words: “Stay active!” Let me elaborate.
stay active physically
Science is proving that people who stay active are healthier and live longer. My 88-year-old wife and I spend half an hour most days walking briskly in the open air. We also enjoy yard work and gardening. We raise vegetables and flowers. My wife also keeps me healthy with a vegetarian diet that’s high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. Neither of us has a problem with being overweight, let alone being obese.
stay active mentally
I’ve never stopped learning. Scientists have found that mental stimulation improves brain function and protects against cognitive decline, thus reducing the risk of cognitive impairment.
My wife and I love to read and are frequent visitors to the university and public libraries. Nearly 500 years ago, the English philosopher and author Francis Bacon wisely wrote, “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.”2 He also said, “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”3
It has always been a challenge for me to put my thoughts into sentences, paragraphs, and meaningful articles. There’s little money in it, but it’s good exercise for my mind. Living near a university for many years, I’ve attended lectures and audited classes. I volunteer as a guide in an archaeological museum. Also, mixing with young people keeps me young in spirit.
stay active spiritually
My first priority is the reading of Scripture. After a short prayer first thing in the morning, I read two chapters in the Bible, then have breakfast. At the end of the day, my wife and I study God’s Word together and pray.
I read different English-language versions, comparing scripture with scripture. As an added exercise, I sometimes peruse a translation in another language. Recently, I’ve begun reading a new version in Spanish, a language I learned when working as a missionary.
In addition to weekly worship services, my wife and I attend two weekly study groups. These informal discussions sharpen our understanding of the Bible’s spiritual lessons.
stay active culturally
Because we live near an institution of higher learning, we often listen to the best in vocal and instrumental music. I enjoy singing bass in a male chorus of 20 voices. Our group gives concerts of gospel music about twice a month in churches of various denominations as well as in nursing homes.
Popular publications have a lot to say about the importance of a proper diet and physical and mental exercise. I can personally affirm that these, along with a spiritual approach, give the best possibility of attaining the century mark.
blue zones
In 2005, author and traveler Dan Buettner wrote a cover article for National Geographic in which he described what he called Blue Zones—regions in the world where small populations are living remarkably long and full lives. In each Blue Zone, Buettner found that people reach the age of 100 at rates significantly higher than the rest of the world while they are still healthy and alert. The four “zones” include
The Barbagia region of Sardinia, Italy
Okinawa, Japan
The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica
A community of Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, California
In 2009, a fifth Blue Zone was discovered in Ikaria, an isolated Greek island in the Aegean Sea.
Buettner’s findings have been published in his New York Times bestselling book, The Blue Zones.
