Heartwarming stories are all around you; they are the need of the hour as there’s a war in every corner. Every tale of cruelty and destruction sucks a bit of humanity from your soul. The negative landscape makes it difficult to believe in the innate goodness of human beings. But some people manage to leave a positive impression on the world with their thoughtful gestures. Alfred Date was one of them as his story touched millions of hearts throughout the world. He was once the oldest person in Australia but that wasn’t the cause of his popularity. He spent his last years knitting sweaters for injured penguins. The little penguins of Phillip Island are indigenous to South Australia, an oil spill on the island made the penguins vulnerable to cold. The spillage caused their feathers to stick, which made the cold water reach their skin. The sweaters protected the birds from the cold weather and prevented them from ingesting toxic waste accidentally. This touching story of a supercentenarian knitting cute sweaters for little penguins won the world. Alfred Date lived a long life full of lessons and he believes these habits wreck your longevity and health more than you realize.
The easiest way to boost mental health
Being kind is not an easy task. You need to be able to look past your troubles to dedicate your time and energy for a noble cause. But it’s the need of the hour and the world would be a lot better place if people invested their time in noble causes like Alfred. Alas, this wisdom can only come with age once you are exhausted by the rat race to realize what matters in life. The toil of daily life depletes your emotional wellness and creates a scarcity mindset that makes you focus only on yourself. The social norms program you to accumulate as much wealth as you can to live a comfortable life that maintains your social standing in the society. Selfless acts such as knitting sweaters for cute injured penguins are guaranteed to boost your emotional well-being and longevity. You forget the joy of giving, the pure, unadulterated feeling you gain from helping someone with zero self-interest in mind.
Live every day like it’s your best. — Alfred Date
The best things in life include selfless acts that give back to society and preserve the good nature of humanity. Small acts of kindness that help others flourish and thrive in life will boost your mental health and longevity. But we get busy with life, fighting the everyday battles that make us miss the bigger picture. You put everything else on the back burner and your mental health suffers the most. Alfred was an experienced knitter who used his hobby to protect and preserve the environment from man-made disasters.
Ditch the biggest distraction that wrecks your brain
Seniors are set in their ways and supercentanarians are even more so. If you have survived a century on this planet, then you get the right to be grouchy about the changing times. But most people who have managed this amazing feat have hacked the growth mindset that helps them survive the changes. It’s a big predictor of longevity. Growth mindset helps them adapt to the changing times, but not all changes are good. Mr. Date was open to the societal changes and he believed it was not his business how people conducted themselves. He is open and accepting about the changing society, but there’s just one technological change that he’s dead against, your mobile phone. According to him, it’s an overhyped device that can wreck your mental peace in the long run. Mobile phones are the biggest distractions that have ruined the attention span of an entire generation. This necessary evil does more harm than good, but it’s an essential device that you can’t replace. But it’s important to use it with caution. Take regular breaks to disconnect with the world and focus on your thoughts. Your phone sucks your focus and attention. So, be mindful of your phone usage to live a more focused life.
The worst addiction that will wreck your health
Good health is the key to better longevity, without which longevity will become a hell on earth. Healthspan is the biggest indicator of longevity. And the biggest enemy of a healthy life is addiction. Overuse of any addictive substance will wreck your health, which will kill your chance of longevity, it’s the simplest truth of living a healthy life. But addiction is not always obvious as it sneaks into your lifestyle silently. You don’t realize its effects until it’s too late, as denial casts a shadow on your brain. Often realization dawns when it’s too late. Alcohol is a social stimulant that greases the wheels of networking. You follow the crowd with a cheers and a chug only to fall for the most vicious addiction. Alcohol addiction is the number one killer of longevity as it invites a plethora of lifestyle diseases in your life. Alfie believes that people nowadays drink too much too frequently. This overdependence on alcohol will wreck your health in the long run.
Sometimes even a little indulgence is too much. — Alfie
The data supports Alfie’s advice, we are drinking more than any generation, and turning more alcoholics with every passing year. There’s no minimum acceptable limit of alcohol that won’t harm your health, but it’s a deep-rooted lifestyle habit that can’t be mended overnight. So, be mindful of alcohol consumption to boost your healthspan with better longevity.
Conclusion
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is about avoiding the bad habits and mindset that can wreck your health. A diligent routine will only show results if you avoid poisonous habits and toxic mindset. Alfred Date, the oldest man in Australia in 2016, won the hearts of people all over the world when he became famous for knitting sweaters for injured penguins. His generosity and wisdom can help you live a long and healthy life.