We had a great time with the children celebrating the year of dragon yesterday, the highlight of the week.
Recently I have been involved in two alumni groups. The involvement reminds me of the lifestyle that I read about in world's blue zone regions, places with a high concentration of centenarians. Other than the obvious factors: exercise and healthy diet, they all have high degree of social integrations.
There has been some research on the impact of social activities on the health and longevity of seniors. There are some obvious explanations, such as, the seniors benefit from the emotional supports from social groups, experience decreased feelings of loneliness and depression. Plus, social interactions provide more mental stimulation. Great for preventing Alzheimer's.
This makes tremendous sense considering the fact that humans are social animals and should be most comfortable living in a social group, not in an isolated environment.
Confucius knew this truth more than two thousand years ago when he said: 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎 (Yǒupéng zì yuǎnfāng lái, bù yì lè hū), which means: what a blessing it is to have friends coming from afar. This quote reveals the joy and happiness the old Master felt from friend's visits. It emphasizes the value of friendship and the happiness associated with them in our lives.
Back to our longevity dream, involvements in social activities and fostering connections will definitely promote the mental and emotional well-being in seniors.