Longevity of Mind and Body

Many people work out in gyms to lead a healthy life. Some of them can achieve their goals but others can’t. A Tibetan Proverb says: “To live well and long, eat half, walk double, laugh triple and love endlessly.” It means that we should eat less than we do, walk twice as much as wedo, laugh three times more than we do and love without any measure to maintain longevity.

Firstly, we need to eat several meals a day to lead a healthy long life. Our daily meals are breakfast, lunch, dinner and some snacks. When it comes to consider what to eat, we should consult dieticians and read books. This reminds me what a German philosophersaid; “You are what you eat.” Therefore, I try to choose nutrients which will empower my mind, body and soul.

What is more, we should do sports to activate our minds and bodies because movement is the essence of survival and existence. There are many ways of doing sports. Many people prefer going for a walk because walking has many advantages, we should walk at least five kilometres a day. Take someone who has had an operation and stayed in hospital for a fortnight for example, that patient cannot leave the hospital on foot. S/he has to practise walking for a few days. Thus, we must do sports which go with ourlifestyles so that we can keep fit and healthy.

Moreover, we need to laugh to lead a happy life. But how many times a day should we laugh? According to researches, babies laugh 400 times a day in average. Unfortunately, as they grow older, the number of their smiles decreases because of many hardships they experience every day.When they become adults, they, of course the luckiest of them, can hardly laugh 17 times a day in average. Some psychologists have already arranged laughter sessions for their patients to make them feel happy.

Furthermore, love is the only remedy to get over all sorts of troubles and diseases at all ages because those who have recovered from several desperate diseases miraculously are those who have loved themselves first and others without any measure. Therefore, love, affection and caring for both ourselves and others can enable us to lead a healthy, happy and prosperous life.

In short, problems which prevent us from leading a happy long life mostly result from our choices in all walks of life. We should always keep in mind that love is the essence of longevity. I strongly believe that a healthy mind is in a healthy body.