How To Achieve A Longer Life Span And Live Life As God Intended: Especially for Introverts
Posted: Monday, April 12, 2010
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
Daddy has a way of reminding me each day around 8:30a.m. And again about 5:30p.m. that he is very alive. He passed away many years ago, but when I hear the train whistle, I always think of Daddy. He was a Depot Agent all of his life. I can still see him giving the message to the conductor via a long stick-like object as the train whizzed by. No wonder his hearing went bad because being so close to that train whistle is extremely loud. Anyway, I love that reminder each day that life is for the living and I need to get back to living and enjoying each day. (The last few years have been a string of losses through death). I need to connect and reconnect with others.
Remember Barbara Striesand's hit song, People?
People,
People who need people,
Are the luckiest people in the world
We're children, needing other children
And yet letting a grown-up pride
Hide all the need inside
Acting more like children than children
I am by nature an introvert and can spend many happy hours alone but that is not always good, as I seem to cut myself off too much. Maybe all of you introverts out there have the same problem and we need to cultivate a happy medium. The trick is to choose when and whom we would like to interact and by doing this, we will preserve our energy. (Introverts recover energy by being alone. Being with people is delightful and wonderful, but it is like being under water, we have to come up for air sometimes that's where our being alone comes in.)
As introverts, we need to learn that we need people; we are not an island. I recently read that we need people in order to even have a longer life span. This research shows that we should not isolate ourselves:
Don't isolate yourself -- now or when you're older. Research has shown that the more connected you are to a community -- be that your family, your synagogue or your book group -- the longer you are likely to live. That makes sense given our evolution from social pack animals whose survival depended on being part of a group, said Robert Butler, professor of geriatrics at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and president and CEO of the International Longevity Center.
In our technology infested society, it is even more important to interact face to face and not just depend on FaceBook, Texting, or E-mail for our connection. I think technology is great but I don't believe it should take place instead of a real conversation.
It's time for me to get ready for my dance class. I would much rather stay in and write or take a walk alone, but I know the importance of interacting and after dancing I will be glad that I had the time with others.
Pearl Buck said:" The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration."
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Great article Fran. I too could very easily isolate.I just recently joined a womens group to keep from isolating because I know that God does not work through voids and it is very unhealthy. Hope people will heed the information you have given them.
This was an interesting article Fran. When you see people being interviewed that are celebrating ninety or one-hundred years, they usually have one thing in common and that is they love socializing and staying active. I'm not much into organized groups but don't go a day without talking to some close friends. I do seem to spend much more time talking to online friends though these days, thanks to SearchWarp. :)
Great article. I am moved by your input. Obviously there is a big question. People are nowadays getting very busy to allow sometime for their friends. Is not that so?
"Introverts recover energy by being alone. Being with people...is like being under water..." I think I'm an extrovert...may be inter-vert (someone in-between introvert and extrovert).
This is a very helpful reminder, Fran. It makes me appreciate my church and small groups even more. And I don't mind the bonus of longer life. ~mogama~
Regarding longevity, the Buddha once said; "One can live a hundred years and not comprehend that all things arise and then pass away. Better to live only one day and fully comprehend that all things arise and then pass away."
Or something like that. Great article. Hope yo don't mind my two cents worth.Best.....e
Yes Fran I suppose you could call me an introvert I do love people but I'd rather be by myself than congregate with many people. I have that CD by Barbra Strisand (people) good article
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