Fountain of Youth

In the news this day is the fact what is believed to be the world's oldest - and possibly largest - wombat just celebrated another birthday. Nicknamed Pat, this gopher-like creature just turned 29. How about that? Unfortunately, we do not know the wombat's secret for longevity. Pilates?  Yoga? One glass of red wine with every dinner? My guess is it is something much more basic: not dying. I say that not to minimize "Pat's" achievement, but, rather, to note that staying alive for as long as possible is a goal we all share. Of course, we want our time alive to be days and years spent being healthy, happy and possibly even productive.


According to a new book on longevity, "Celebrate 100, Centenarian Secrets to Success in Business and Life," there are currently between 55,000 and 80,000 men and women over the age of 100 in the United States. This figure is expected to increase to 600,000 by the year 2050. Further, authors Steven Franklin and Lynn Peters Adler note that a newborn in 2012 has a 29.9 percent chance of living to be 100 as compared to a newborn in 1912 whose chance of living that long was less than one percent. Step aside Pat the wombat. Again, I am not trying to make light of Pat's durability. It just seems we humans are starting to get a handle on sticking around a long time, too.


One interesting aspect of this trend is that not only are we living longer, but more and more the ever-increasing number of centenarians are living lives of energy and zest. What is their secret? In general terms, researchers are finding that it involves around engagement; specifically, being active with friends and family as well as activities that one finds to be fun and challenging. Such "secrets" speak to communication. Fundamentally, humans are social creatures that need contact and interaction with others. Even though we may have more aches and pains as we age or move more slowly than we used to does not mean we can or should not continue connecting with others as best we can.