Do you need to up your social game??

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Are you "Socially" well?? The face-to-face interactions you have on a daily basis are one of the strongest predictors of how long you’ll live.

As we learned from our journey through the Blue Zones, having a solid social group can significantly increase longevity! In Okinawa, they have a longevity tradition called a Moai. A Moai is a social support group that starts in childhood and extends throughout your life. The term originated hundreds of years ago as a means of a village’s financial support system. Originally, moais were formed to pool the resources of an entire village for projects or public works. If an individual needed capital to buy land or take care of an emergency, the only way was to pool money locally. Today the idea has expanded to become more of a social support network, a cultural tradition for built-in companionship.

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Research shows that your social connections can have long-term impact on your health and happiness. You mimic the habits of your three closest friends. If you share similar values, healthy habits, and life goals, then you’re likely to:
  1. Experience Less Stress - Loneliness can decrease your life expectancy by eight years. In Okinawa, members of a moai experience the stress-shedding security of knowing that there is always someone there for them.
  2. Be Happier - With each happy friend you add to your network, you increase your happiness by 15 percent. Happiness is contagious.
  3. Live Longer - Older people without close friends are more likely to develop chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and depression than their counterparts. They’re also at a higher risk for suffering from a stroke.
When was the last time you had a social wellness check-up? Can you honestly and confidently make the following statements? 


1. I am able to resolve conflicts in all areas of my life
2. I am aware of the feelings of others and can respond appropriately
3. I have at least three people with whom I have a close trusting relationship
4. I am aware of and able to set and respect my own and others boundaries
5. I have satisfying social interaction with others 30. I have a sense of belonging/not being isolated

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If so, congratulations!! Keep up the great work, you social butterfly!
If not, you are not alone! Use this little check-in as encouragement to reach out to a friend you haven't seen in too long or to make a new friend!

Happy connecting!

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