The Mystery of Longevity

I bought this little book in Los Angeles Chinatown in the 1970s. It represents a study conducted in China regarding the habits of individuals who had lived to be eighty to over a hundred years old. There are many interesting examples and a lot of diversity in behaviors leading to a long, happy and healthy life.

None of the behaviors involved anything close to what a modern western person with money might do to increase their longevity, as you might suspect. In every example these people would be considered poor and only have access to very basic lifestyle choices.

What was most interesting is what these hundreds of people had in common. Yes, tai chi and chi gong were in the mix, but there were more common behaviors. Number one was gardening. If gardening wasn't possible, having plants or fresh flowers in the house was next. Doing the same things at the same time everyday was another common factor, as was being with friends, often.

What I found so interesting at the time was the expectation that one was supposed to improve in every way as one aged.Getting older was considered an opportunity, not a sentence of infirmity and lack of ability.

I took the message of that little book to heart. Life offers us nearly everything we need to become interested, healthy and capable throughout our lives, and most of those things are easily accessible. Life isn't a trap that requires an expensive or exotic way through. 

Professor Cheng once said " The best reason to practice tai chi is so that by the time you figure out what life is about, you'll have some health to enjoy it." Of course there are many other components to health and well being, and tai chi can serve an immensely important role along with other daily behaviors that are easily accessible.