Lesson 11: Learn From The Best

Part of this course's aim is to help you improve your observation skills so that you can learn from the best things that you can apply to your own good health.

So who are "the best" when it comes to health?

• on average women live healthier lives than men (this translates in longer life expectancy)
• people above 85 who are still physically and mentally fit
• some village people in remote areas on Earth (e.g. Okinawa)
• specific people who look much younger than their real age
• positive people with a lot of energy

Don't forget that you can also learn specific health tricks from average Joe as well who might know a few tricks from his grandmother even if he compensates these with other unhealthy habits.

Don't be afraid to ask these people questions like:

• Wow, you look so much younger than your age, what's your secret?
• Wow, although you are 91, I have the impression I talk to a 30-year old! How do you keep so mentally fit and young?
• Wow, you seem to have so much energy, any tips?
• Wow, you are always happy and smiling, what's your secret?

Most people like compliments and would most certainly be very open to discuss their health secrets with you, just be aware that sometimes they are not always fully aware what their real trick is.

Please be also aware that their health secrets will not necessarily work for you. If one person tells you they go swimming every morning, and you personally do not like that kind of exercise, you should not force yourself. But don't take off your detective cap, this person might have other ideas for you, even if he does not put it in words.

What regards very old people (let's say above 95), you will notice that...

• one smokes,
• one eats too much,
• one never exercises,
• one drinks...

...so theoretically they should all have checked out a long time ago, but they are still here so they must be doing something right.

One thing most of them have in common is a good sense of humour, they do not seem to take life too seriously!

This is so important, because when you are uptight about ANYTHING, that means that you let your ego take over and that builds up toxic stuff in your body that is unhealthy, especially in the long-run.

Taming the Ego

Most very old people have been good at taming their egos, which is why they tend to have a great sense of humour.

So, having gone through half of this course, how is now your relationship to your ego? Have you started to better understand how it operates, how it tries to trick you over and over again? Have you already caught it a few times? Write down your experiences in your health journal.

One other thing you can learn from healthy elders is their positive perceptions about ageing. Studies have shown that people with a positive attitude live much longer than those with negative ones.

Think about it: if you continue to grow and learn every day, why shouldn't you find it great to get wiser year after year? The more you learn, the more interesting life gets!

So you can live long without even if you neglect some parts of your life. But you could certainly enhance your life quality by learning from the best of the best. In his book, John Robbins mentions the following essential things to combine:

• a lot of varied physical exercise
• a mostly plant-based nutrition
• having many loving relationships and a caring community
• having a higher purpose in life
• having a positive attitude toward ageing.

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