💡The Longevity Trick Doctors Don’t Tell You

A few things Spain gets right that we can all learn from.

Michelle, is it me or is everyone around us like 65 years or older?

Yeah, and everyone has a cigarette or a glass of beer in their hand.

It’s 9:30pm. We’re at a restaurant in a plaza in Logroño, Spain.

The place is packed and everyone is dressed in their Sunday best and having a great time.

These people really know how to party, I wanna retire like this.

For real, we’re definitely the boring ones here.

Do It In Good Company

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor and I am not advocating smoking or drinking.

But damn, if there’s a way to do that, these old-timers had the best method:

• Dressing up nicely

• Sitting outside with friends

• Laughing and sharing stories

We noticed this all over Spain, people hanging out having a beer or glass of wine together at all hours of the day.

Of course, my curiosity led me to do some research.

The life expectancy in Spain is 84.3 years, which is #6 in the world if you count only countries with over 1M people.

But how?

There are well-known health benefits of living a low stress life, enjoying strong interpersonal relationships, and feeling a sense of purpose into old age.

Could these benefits perhaps outweigh the cost of a casual beer or two?

The data seems to think so.

My takeaway → beer or no beer involved, I can live to 84 years if I spend more time outside chatting with good friends.

At a cost of $0.00, that’s the best health supplement out there.

Drink Less, Eat More

You will notice far less gyms in Spain than the US, but also less traffic.

In the US, we drive to the cafe, the office, the gym, and then the restaurant.

The Spanish attitude: why drive to the gym when you can walk to the restaurant?

I’ve been tracking my steps and calories burned, and they’ve been just as high here but without going to the gym.

It’s taking me longer to get places, but if I get my cardio walking, then I save time not having to run or walk just for the sake of exercise.

In fact, there are 62% more cars per capita in the US than in Spain.

My takeaway → When possible, why not budget a little extra time to walk to get coffee or out to dinner?

It’s better for my health and the environment too.

What’s The Rush?

Have you ever gotten stressed out rushing somewhere, only to end up having to wait anyway?

Spaniards don’t do that.

They stop to greet friends on the street, pet their neighbor's dog, or stop for a quick espresso on their way to go somewhere.

And if you’re the one waiting for the friend, you chat with someone, find a dog to pet, or grab an espresso.

There’s no concept of wasted time, being late, or feeling stressed rushing.

They always stop and smell the roses.

Is this the best for productivity and business?

I don’t know, but there’s something here we can all learn from.

My takeaway → don’t miss the experience rushing off to get to the experience.

The Bottom Line

If you want to live longer, slow down.

At the end of day, we remember conversations, not being 15 minutes late.

My challenge for you this week is to walk somewhere you would normally drive. Invite your spouse or friend. Stop at anything that makes you curious, and just enjoy the trip.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Twitter 

Complementary Call

 If you’re craving an adventure in your own life, be it related to health, career, or relationships, I’m offering complementary calls. I guarantee we’ll have you clear on your next steps. Grab a slot —> here.

Recommended Wine

We’ve been touring La Rioja wine country and this is our favorite one that’s available in the US. The best Rioja’s are from 2019, so try to get that year.

That’s all for now my friend. I’ll be sending you weekly stories that show what's possible when we look at our life as a great adventure.

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📢 The next issue will arrive from Crete, where I’ll share the best lessons from the Greek lifestyle.

Talk to you again soon.

Jim Wall