Above all? People who handle stress well.
Chronic stress is linked to a significantly reduced lifespan, with studies estimating it can shave off about three years on average by accelerating cellular aging, often more. It increases risk of heart disease, cardiac arrest and various other ailments like diabetes.
The man in the picture above was a WWII veteran named Lawrence Brooks. He lived to the age of 112 and he was a lifelong smoker. But smoking kept him relaxed and calm, and he had lungs of steel. I am sure the man was genetically blessed and lucky in many ways. But he was also just cool as a cucumber, which is why he was able to serve in the war under rough circumstances, watch friends and comrades die, and not be kept up at night after the fact… he had a stable homelife, raised five children and lived long enough to watch 13 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren being born. He was married to the same woman for sixty-five years, no drama, no cheating, stable employment and enjoyed a calm and largely peaceful existence.
The average person is fairly affected by stress, a need to perform, guilt over past mistakes, regrets over things we did or didn’t do and wories about the pressures of life. And those who keep breathing, stay calm, go through the motions and keep a cool head, will live longest. You’ll rarelu see a neurotic, twitchy overthinker turn 100, no matter how healthy his or her diet, but you’ll frequently see a chill, laid-back smoker or casual wine drinker make it to a century. Stress, and our ability to deal with it, holds the key.
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