* Highly recommended by Professor Jeong Hee-won of the Department of Geriatrics at Seoul Asan Medical Center

You can forget the number 65.
Our old age is becoming increasingly healthier over the decades_Jeong Hee-won
A book that transforms aging into the most meaningful experience in life! _Daniel Pink
Thanks to you, I've come to happily wait for the passage of time. _Oliver Burkeman

“What keeps you out of bed after 65?”

In-Depth Report from a National Christopher Award-Winning Biologist and Geriatrician
How Blue Zone Elders Live to 100 Without Disease or Dementia

Now, 'middle age' means reaching the middle part of life.
If you're approaching the age of fifty, it means you have as many days left as you've lived so far.
But when it's time to prepare for the second act of life, many people prepare to end their lives too early.
Most of us hesitate in front of kiosks, become discouraged and say, "I'm finished now," and minimize our lives by treating retirement as a spare moment.
"Where Does the Strength to Live Come From?" is a book for everyone who wants to live productively and satisfyingly until the end of their lives.

Professor Jeong Hee-won of Seoul Asan Medical Center said, “Thinking of aging as something to avoid or an enemy to be eradicated is as harmful as smoking a pack of cigarettes every day for the rest of your life.”
But most people are afraid of the age after 65, when they are considered elderly.
The same was true for author Marcy Cottrell Hall, an eight-time award-winning biologist who was recognized in academic circles and had a harmonious family and positive relationships.
He experiences an experience where he falls at the entrance of a supermarket, breaks both his arms, and is forced to live without help from someone.
What was most painful was being treated like an 'invisible person' by people.
Experiencing firsthand what it feels like to be ignored and isolated as an older person, he realizes that many people, including himself, are surprisingly indifferent to preparing for aging.


While some old people are bedridden and regretful, others live a flourishing life in their old age, as the hard work they have put in bears fruit.
What makes this difference? A National Christopher Medal-winning gerontologist and biologist delves into the question through a year-long, in-depth investigation into the "Blue Zones," where many people live to be 100 and beyond, disease- and dementia-free, and thrive.
The book is filled with the secrets of the elders who made twilight the peak of their lives.
It vividly conveys the wise advice of elders who have lived for nearly a century, while also scientifically explaining how our bodies and brains age, helping us open up the second, third, and beyond of life.


"Where Does the Strength to Live Come From?" is a must-read not only for those in middle age, but for everyone facing the certain future of aging.
Because this book is not about aging, but about how each day can shine.
There is no set future, but one thing is certain.
Those who accept time as a gift will be given more time.

Josh continued his thoughts in more depth.
“Everyone is bound to feel sorry for themselves.
A beggar who feels sorry for himself.
But that shouldn't be the case.
Self-centeredness is a major cause of unhappiness.
If you focus too much on yourself, you will become distant from others.
When people are obsessed only with their own needs and desires, they become anxious and restless.
“You have to overcome that.”

“How?” I asked Josh, remembering the times I struggled with broken arms and often wallowed in self-pity.

“It’s simple.
You just have to get out of yourself.
Wouldn't it be much better to do good to others at that time?
“Think about and practice ways to improve the lives of others!”
---From "Part 1 - A Goal Higher than Pleasure"

Centenarians who live to be over 100 years old usually have great decision-making skills.
They know what they want and go straight for it.
But when life forces you to adapt, embrace change with flexibility.
They also easily win the favor of others.

This quote, describing a centenarian living in Okinawa, Japan, one of the Blue Zones, says it all.
People who have lived well for a long time walk their own path with dignity, but when life throws a punch, they respond flexibly.
We must learn from the wisdom of older people who maintain their autonomy through adaptability.
---From "Part 1 - To Change Until Death"

“There are two things I consider important in life.
“It’s about not retiring and planning for the future,” Bob emphasized.
“Whatever you do, make a plan.
Write down your plan and check it from time to time.
Draw a line through each task you have completed.
Feel free to modify the plan if necessary.
Try to work as systematically as possible.
There are things I tried but didn't succeed.
I went bankrupt twice.
There have been many times when I have encountered serious problems.
But I never gave up.
Every time, I changed direction slightly and paved the way.
And I came back to find the values ​​that were important to me, the beliefs that I pursue.”
---From "Part 1 - When Life Doesn't Go Your Way, Just Turn the Page"

Don and Barbara are preparing for their eighth anniversary in two months.
The love shared between two people does not erase the sorrow of losing a spouse or shorten the time it takes for the wound to heal.
But before they knew it, sadness had melted into their lives, adding richness and gratitude to their lives.

On the shelf next to Barbara, an elaborate wooden falcon sculpture caught my eye.
Barbara noticed my gaze and spoke.
“Isn’t it beautiful? Frank really loved hawks.
Whenever I see that statue, I always think of Frank.
There's something Frank said to me when he found out he was dying.
'There are only two important assets in life: love and time.
“You can tell a lot about a person by where they spend their time and love.”
---From "Part 2 - The only two things that matter in life are love and time"

“Every morning I wake up feeling grateful.
“Because there are souls who had to leave without being able to greet a new day,” Karen said.
“The moment you wake up, you are given another chance.
I go up to the plate again and swing the bat.
Someday I'll hit a home run.
As long as I have the strength to make a change, I will keep trying.”
---From "Part 2 - Another opportunity comes the moment you wake up"

Just from what we've discussed so far, you can guess how high Sweden's level of welfare for the elderly is.
But that's not all.
Sweden offers a range of home visiting services to reduce the negative impact of social determinants on health.

Among them, the service called ‘Citizen Repairman’ was particularly impressive.
They visit the homes of seniors and help with household chores, such as hanging curtains or changing lightbulbs, to reduce the risk of falls.
For older adults at high risk for falls, changing lightbulbs and cleaning gutters can be done with a simple phone call, without having to climb a ladder.
Moreover, the cost is fully covered by the government.
---From "Part 2 - There is a country for old men"

I met some wonderful people while I was on sabbatical.
Dr. Ken Rockwood, who works at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, was one of them.
Dr. Lockwood approached frailty from a slightly different perspective.
The doctor defined frailty as an "accumulation of deficits" rather than a specific symptom, and developed a criterion called the "clinical frailty score," which is used to measure "very healthy (vigorous, energetic, and motivated)".
They range in health from 'exercising regularly and being one of the healthiest people in their age group' to 'severely frail (not able to do anything for themselves and approaching the end of their lives).
It was divided into grades ranging from 'a state where even minor illnesses cannot be overcome' to 'a state where even minor illnesses cannot be overcome'.

---From "Part 3 - People with resilience do not age quickly"