Right now I am on the road, probably going up and over the Idaho Rockies! On Saturday I wrote and pre-scheduled this post so you could read it while I am away from the Internet. Pretty cool new plug-in. Here ya go — JJs tips for a longer life!

My relatives tend to live into their 80s and 90s. I have never understood this, because we have our fair share of illness in our genetics. Our DNA includes a tendency for heart disease and high blood sugar, yet longevity runs in the family. My mom is nearly 87 and lives with a pacemaker and defibrillator. She is an insulin-dependent diabetic, and she has outlived nearly all of her friends and all of her siblings. It’s amazing. My dad died at 80 years of age and had numerous serious illnesses.  At one point he had chronic leukemia, which he beat.

I know that I can offset my genetics by exercising more and eating healthy. I mostly do that but I do fall short sometimes in the exercise department. So, imagine my joy this morning when I stumbled on this article: “Those Who Read Books Live Longer Than Those Who Don’t.”  A study at Yale shows that readers have a significant advantage over those who don’t read books. In fact, book readers live an average of 2 years longer than non-readers.

How much reading? The study shows that people who read for 3.5 hours per week are less likely to die over the course of the study than those who did not read. One half hour/day. That is not much time for such a great benefit.  Since I read a minimum of 3 hours/day, perhaps I will live forever? I imagine that the benefit of reading tops out after a few hours.

I love that reading could extend my life span. The study could also explain the longevity in my family. My parents were readers and/or writers their entire adult lives. Mom taught English and reading. Dad was a journalist, and each read constantly. Mom’s living room chair and bed were surrounded by piles of books. They regularly escorted us to the library, where we could check-out anything we wanted. As a teenager, I still loved the library and often spent time in the music “listening room”. Heck, as a senior citizen I still love the library and sometimes come back to the RV with a bag full of books. One of my greatest joys of returning to civilization is library access.

So, my lazy mind now asks, can I read instead of exercise? Ha-ha. I don’t think this is an either/or thing. Reading may add a few years, but the exercise adds quality of life and so much more. Outdoor exercise –as opposed to indoor gyms–has mental/spiritual benefits as well.