Key to Longevity is Doing What You Love

[lixluke]

In studying longevity, I have heard that the main common trait to live long is to do what you love.
I believe in eating raw food for a long healthy life, but I have read about poeple with the worst diets and worst health habits living very long. Mainly because they do what they love.


I have heard also that 60% of deaths in America occur on Mondays. Most deaths on Mondays occur in the morning. Most of those between 9am-10am.
Is there any factual data behind these tolls?


Upon reaching the age of 65, 95% of Americans are either dead or dead broke. So says the success philosophers. Is there any accuracy to this?


So is doing something you dislike on a regular basis not just correlated, but the catalyst in individual ultimate demise? Death.


I myself instictually avoid anything and everything that isn't related to doing what I love(writing, performing, designing, teaching/learning). Is this a survival instinct? As if somehow my body instinctively refuses to allow me to take part in any activity that is not absolutely fulfilling to me. Therefore, allowing me to live longer.


So here's the question: Is constantly doing what you absolutely love and avoiding anything you do not enjoy the deciding factor that determines the length of your lifespan?

 

[Xerxes]

Is constantly doing what you absolutely love and avoiding anything you do not enjoy the deciding factor that determines the length of your lifespan?

I look it at differently. You need the perfect amount of stress in your life and constantly move away from you 'comfort zone'.

Doing what you love and ignoring responsibilities/health or whatever makes you weak and unnappreciative. Likewise, stressing over things that you can't possibly control makes you bitter.

Earlier today, there was this huge nerd working on the computer opposite to me and she was - get this - in tears because she realized that she would not be able to fully complete the assignment. 'wha wha wha, but I have to get to calculus!!!' she says to her man whore.

Contrast that some of my lazy friends who visit wendy's each night and couldn't give two shits about getting to class (not that their taking any...) These guys admit their going to die young from poor health and seem unusually proud.

Do you what you love, but don't use that as an excuse to do what you know is good for you. Assembly language is boring, but I learn it because I want to become a better programmer. If you wanna be a rockstar, learn to PLAY first. Get in shape, stop filling your body with carcinogens if you don't want to die early. It applies to everyone

 

[water]

So here's the question: Is constantly doing what you absolutely love and avoiding anything you do not enjoy the deciding factor that determines the length of your lifespan?

The deciding factor that determines the length of your lifespan is the car that hits you.


Otherwise, I think you are asking a question of the kind "Do birds fly?".

Unless what interests you is whether slaves are to be happy with their slavery.

 

[duendy]

Doing what you love MAY imply having to become 'poor'. for if you're doing some job you hate and the only alternative is to levae which'll leave you with not as much money, on benefit etc, what then?

i feel we all have the power of choice. you dont HAVEt to do what your parents wish for you to do If you dont want that...dont HAVe to do some shit job, task etc IF you dont want to.....What usually keeps us doing stuff like that is usually fear of changing even a crappy situation because of the fear of the unknown. like 'the lesser of the two evil' kind of tthing. But KNOW that it is YOUR choice. THAt is your power

of COURSe doing what you hate is not good. who the fk wants to do what they hate. it's this culture that loves havin you do shit like that hile it rolls in your labour as capital for its machine. hence the godamn rat race all round

 

[duendy]

....and miserable faces....and violence.....and druggin, and boozin it...and people on meds....and road rage.....and overeatin...and shoppin....and worry and trouble......and suicides....and bullying.....and boredom

 

[purple_hairstreak]

Who cares? You're going to die when you are. I say do what you love, and even if you don't live longer, you'll live happy!

 

[cosmictraveler]

Keeping yourself out of other peoples businesses is a good way to live a long time!

Eating , sleeping , excercising , love, fun and good friends are also good things to have.

 

[Closet Philosopher]

I work hard and play hard. It's a bit of a family trait. I go to dchool, then I go to work, then I do homework and by the time it's done, it's about 10:00 PM, then I'll watch a little TV or something. On the weekends, I party and go nuts. My family has long lifelines (many of them 90+) and we all live in a similar way. Maybe it's the perfect balance.

 

[§outh§tar]

Go out and rape every woman you want to. And then you will have longevity all your days.

Longevity.

 

[Xerxes]

longetivity behind bars

 

[§outh§tar]

longetivity behind bars

The accompanying mental image was entirely unnecessary.

Besides that,

How can a man possibly be jailed for doing something he loves? Such is the heinous injustice that makes morality the stupidest thing since McDonalds.

 

[Xerxes]

freedom of the individual and freedom from the individual. Its called the social contract, not morality. And you're welcome to move someplace without one.

In the meantime, lets not break the rules we've all agreed upon.

edit:
and why is mcdonalds 'stupid'? They're simply responding to demand

 

[§outh§tar]

freedom of the individual and freedom from the individual. Its called the social contract, not morality. And you're welcome to move someplace without one.

Au contraire. Since no man is born with some preposterous obligation to a society thriving on herd mentality and its lofty morality, if society does not like it, society can move elsewhere.

As far as you and I know, contracts are usually agreed to. If you never agreed to this so-called 'contract' in the first place, then ask yourself this: how can you possibly breach it?

Ironically enough I wrote a little piece on this today. Bashing laws and morality as the threshold of human stupidity. I find nothing more absurd and baneful than this foolish notion that freedom is to be found in laws. Pack animals, that's what society comprises. The very idea even that there is to be individualism found in society is equally depressing. Both beliefs are obviously retarded and incompatible.

Huxley's Brave New World triumphs over Orwell's 1984.

In the meantime, lets not break the rules we've all agreed upon.

Funny how to be free, we are all forced to sign a social contract. All for one, and one for all.

Did I mention I'm Emma Goldman's descendant? That I am.

and why is mcdonalds 'stupid'? They're simply responding to demand

Have you seen their new slew of hip, urban commercials? More revolting than the food. Well, almost.

 

[VossistArts]

Hmm my view on it is the key to longevity is to not compare your present self to your past. Avoid memories unless specifically for the purpose of drawing new meaning out of reflection. Stay out of the mirror. Avoid reinforcing thought habits such as,, oh I feel old. Im tired. I dont feel well. Im not as young as I used to be.
Dont work towards retirement and dont believe that time brings you down. I believe we really do create our outside image from the way we see ourselves in the insides to a large extent.

And genetics. Plays a huge role.

 

[water]

Au contraire. Since no man is born with some preposterous obligation to a society thriving on herd mentality and its lofty morality, if society does not like it, society can move elsewhere.

You really have things backwards.

 

[lixluke]

and why is mcdonalds 'stupid'? They're simply responding to demand
--------------------
That's why.

Furthermore, commercialism is not a response to demand. It is a manipulation of demand.

 

[Xerxes]

Coolskill,

They're making buckets of money and piling up real estate. Do you really believe McDonalds has some insidious plan to make Americans fat?

§outh§tar,

Au contraire. Since no man is born with some preposterous obligation to a society thriving on herd mentality and its lofty morality, if society does not like it, society can move elsewhere.

Thats like blind man tellilng a giant oak to make like a tree and leaf..

Say what you want. Kick the tree. Head-butt it at full speed. It ain't going anywhere. And you're still in denial.

As far as you and I know, contracts are usually agreed to. If you never agreed to this so-called 'contract' in the first place, then ask yourself this: how can you possibly breach it?

You mean the great stork never let you see it!! Bastard!

I find nothing more absurd and baneful than this foolish notion that freedom is to be found in laws. Pack animals, that's what society comprises. The very idea even that there is to be individualism found in society is equally depressing.

Security is to be found in laws, not freedom. Thats the whole point of the social contract- you trade away bits of freedom for security.

Did I mention I'm Emma Goldman's descendant? That I am.

Really? Congratulations. But how nice it would be to make a name for yourself, rather than being another Napoleon III.

Have you seen their new slew of hip, urban commercials? More revolting than the food. Well, almost.

I hardly ever watch TV

 

[Fraggle Rocker]

Security is to be found in laws, not freedom. Thats the whole point of the social contract- you trade away bits of freedom for security.

Be careful, that may have been a good motto in the days of Gilgamesh when the world was overrun with barbarian hordes. But today it's quite possible to go too far. Somebody famous (look it up in Bartlett's) said, "People who are willing to sacrifice a little freedom for a little security eventually end up with neither. And that's perfectly fair, because it's what those people deserve."

I hardly ever watch TV

That sounds really hip, there were lots of people who went around saying that during the 1960s. Of course, those are the same people who are now my age and can describe every moment of every scene in every episode of the original Star Trek and Mission: Impossible series.

There are hundreds of channels. There's plenty of really good stuff on TV. If you haven't found it you're just not trying. Drama, mystery, music, comedy, animated shows. Plenty of people I respect think highly of some of the TV news programs, although I personally think they tell us how to feel instead of what's happening.

TV is a wasteland of advertising and other people's favorite sitcoms only if you forget to use the OFF button.

 

[Roman]

I'm going to run with Fraggle's reassesment of television, and that not watching TV is just the trendy thing to do.
Not eating McDonald's is also a trendy thing. The food their is delicious, and I have a difficult time believeing anyone who contradicts me. It's chock full of high calorie nutrients that our simian brains crave. Dislike of McDonalds is a culture response.
We don't like McDonalds because it's what the peasants eat.

 

[Crimson_Scribe]

And back to the topic - my two cents:

I think (opinion - no research here) that doing what you love gives you a reason to live longer and helps with the psychological component of that, but you really do need to pay attention to how you treat your body. I think that basicaly if you respect your body, you'll have a long life. Sometimes some MacDonalds (yup, it's a good treat but a bad diet), do some hiking, do things in moderation, and you're good to go.