I have known quite a few people in my circle of friends and family who did not live the “healthy” way. My Granduncle John lived to be 101 years old, and every day of his adult life he had a bottle of wine with lunch and dinner (he made his own vintages from grapes grown on his property). Uncle John also ate chunks of gorgonzola cheese regularly, all the red meats he wanted, and washed it all down with desserts and coffee and powerful grappa (made from the detritus of the winemaking process). I know this seems out of the ordinary, but he lived his life the way he wanted with no excuses. Until he was in his mid-90s, Uncle John also used to climb a ladder to fix the roof, paint his house, and tend to his grapes and garden. Was he just lucky or did he know something we didn’t know?
My grandfather’s secret (he lived until 88) was a glass or two of “hooch” before bedtime and the most putrid cigars anyone can imagine; another uncle (who died at 94) enjoyed unfiltered cigarettes well into his 90s (and he started smoking when he was 13), and various other relatives still eat pepperoni like bananas and drink wine or beer like it’s bottled water. Do I advocate such a path? No! I don’t tell people how to live their lives; I am just happy to see them live.
On the other hand I have known “health nuts” who are equally happy and contented. They eat their alfalfa sprout sandwiches and drink their green tea and jog ten miles a day. I am an equal opportunity friend and relative; I basically let everyone go his or her own way as long as they don’t infringe on my lifestyle. When my cousin from California starts moaning about “all that cholesterol” and the “impurities in my food,” I just smile and walk away.
I know a few young women who are so conscious of their weight that they have started to worry me. I mean, will one or two pigs-in-the-blanket ruin their diets? Will one glass of wine? One dish of ice cream? The thing that worries me most is that this watching of weight can become an obsession and then descend into something far worse. I have also known a good friend who jogged daily, ate sparingly, never drank or smoked, and had regular medical check-ups. Although never sick a day in his life, he died in his driveway while putting out the garbage from a massive heart attack.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
Sounds like good advice to me!
2 - Nancy
You're smart - and certainly less stressed about breaking resolutions than the rest of us.
I think it has to be genetic: all 4 of my grands died over the age of 99, and 3 of the 4 died over 102. They ate whatever they wanted, and both grandmas were plump (rotund, even) classical Grandma types, always baking & tasting. Both grandpas had a fondness for the aforementioned stiff drink & foul stogies as well. I myself did NOT diet during the holiday, but DID eat very moderately whatever I wanted (mainly mashed potatoes) - and actually lost a few lbs. by New Years. Go figure.
3 - Andy Marsh
I made on resolution about 10 years ago and I haven't broken it since. I resolved to never make another new years resolution!
4 - Mary K. Williams
Victor -
Love it! Do your thing man.
5 - Elvira Black
Awesome, Victor! And the beauty part is, if you ever do decide to become more bacchanalian in your lifestyle choices, you've obviously got good genes on your side!
I think enjoying life to the fullest may be the best way to prolong it. At least I hope so. And if not, you can at least demonstrate you had plenty of fun along the way.
6 - Victor Lana
Elvira, I think happiness is part of the prescription for health (maybe the old eat, drink, and be merry wasn't so wrong). I do believe that a culture of deprivation (whether self inflicted or not) leads to unhappiness and thus poor health.