Hola from Mexico!
As I’m enjoying a little sun, sand, and fresh air on this family vacation (first one for baby Beverly), I decided to take a time-out to send you this little note. I’ll keep this short and to the point:
I just completed a wonderful little business book called The Go-Giver (Have you read it? If so, comment and tell me your thoughts), and I thought I’d share the results of a really interesting study. The study is not referenced in the book, but it’s related to the book’s premise. Researchers at the University of Michigan reported that older people who were followed for five years reduced their risk of dying by 60%, simply by being helpful to friends, neighbors, or relatives. The ones receiving the help, however, didn’t alter their death risk at all.
Bottom line:
Doing good deeds has health benefits.
Maybe kindness is its own reward. Maybe it’s good to feel useful. Maybe giving induces a good mood, which in turn supports well-being. Maybe it’s all of the above. Whatever the reason, there’s a clear connection between longevity and helping others. Look, it’s easy to get a bit low during February in Toronto. A sojourn to somewhere warm and tropical is a great fix. But when that’s not an option, one of the best cures for negative emotion is performing a selfless act. So do something nice for someone today.
Your body, and your mood, will thank you for it.
That’s all for now. I’m going to get back to enjoying my holiday. Hope you have a great week.
Hasta La Vista! :-)
Dr. Josh
