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The Secrets to Living a Long Life

Lessons from Tomoji Tanabe

By Chris Dunmire, CurrentLiving.com

This morning I happened upon a Yahoo! News headline that read: "The Secret to Being 111: Japan's Tomoji Tanabe, now the world's oldest man, gives insight into his longevity."

Whenever Centurians are interviewed about their lives, I take note of what they have to say. The Reuters story, " Japanese teetotaler named world's oldest man at 111" published on June 18, 2007, notes:

"An 111-year-old Japanese just named the world's oldest man said he owed his longevity to steering clear of alcohol.

'I don't drink alcohol -- that is the biggest reason for my good health,' Tomoji Tanabe told reporters on Monday. He also told media he does not smoke and likes a glass of milk a day.

Asked how much longer he wanted to live, the besuited Tanabe, a former local government worker, said simply: 'I don't want to die.'"

Staying clear of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol are always common-sense variables in these scenarios, but did you notice what else Tomoji said? He "likes a glass of milk a day" and "doesn't want to die." Focusing on the latter, most people don't "want" to die, but I wonder how much the positive energy attached to wanting to live, thriving on life, appreciating each breath, and cherishing our bodies adds to a longer life span?

Do our positive thoughts have the power to charge our biology, make us stronger and healthier, and activate the desire and potential within us to live longer? Is a person dwelling in the states of love, gratitude, and connectedness laying a groundwork that may add years to their lives? Those tuned in to the "energy vibrations" of living will affirm this with sobering implications about the choices we make and how we consciously move along on our paths.

How Eye See it Today

In my mid-20s I experienced a terrifyingly dark, abyssal depressed state that perpetuated in part by my thoughts and attitudes about what was happening in my life situation at the time, climaxing into the belief that it was useless for me to go on living. I packed my bags and was literally ready to check out. Obviously, something intervened that saved me from myself and helped me find higher ground (a reflection for another day). A decade later I can talk about this phase with insight and perspective and thankfulness that my life continued on.

I share this piece of my history because I think it helps illustrate my wonderment in the power not only in "positive thinking", but in mindful living, seeking, exploring, nurturing, caring for, and appreciating our bodies, mind, and spirit. This includes celebrating our individuality, being aware of our connectedness with others, and engaging in willful acts of creativity.

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of spending time with a sharp, witty woman named Ginny in her late-70s who was just overflowing with vigor and vim. Her words of wisdom and being-ness infused me with an appreciation for life and hope for my own autumn years. I find it telling how people who are living healthy, connected, fulfilling lives aren't usually found at home baking cookies for "the inevitable" company to arrive at the front door sporting a black hoodie and sharp sickle.

No, these Centurian-class people don't stare at the metaphorical hour glass allowing symbolic grains of sand to dictate how they will spend their moments, minutes, and months (unlike Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz who just sobbed her way through the sand). These are the people who are truly living their lives in the moment with a spark in their eye and a philosophy that allows them to humor others by responding to silly questions like "How much longer do you want to live?"

On the other hand, perhaps the National Dairy Council was right all along: Milk really does do a body good. •

© 2007 Chris Dunmire, CurrentLiving.com. All rights reserved. (06/18/07) Please do not duplicate this article elsewhere without my permission.

About the Author | More by Chris Dunmire
Chris Dunmire is creatively engaged in life as an artist, writer, humorist, and publisher of the popular Creativity Portal Web site. She's trained as a creativity coach with Eric Maisel, Ph.D., and Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching founder Jill Badonsky. Chris develops Web-based projects and playbooks to encourage creative thinking, artistic expression, and imaginative play in people of all ages. Learn more about Chris's books at CreativeSlush.com.