Be Social! Live Longer!
“Having more quality social connections decreases your likelihood of heart disease by 30 percent and also reduces your risk of dementia by 50 percent” (Arnold’s Pump Club) – that’s the latest finding from the study of people over 45 years old.
Reading this made me very happy because over the years of running KMD I’ve witnessed countless examples of people finding great friends and even soulmates while training.
It’s especially important when you factor in how many people told me they felt lonely, isolated, even desperate.
“In this study, the researchers found that feeling isolated can speed up aging as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having six drinks daily”(Arnold’s Pump Club). Doesn’t it sound insane?!
But it gets worse. It seems that loneliness creates a domino effect.
“When people feel isolated, they’re less likely to exercise, eat well, or sleep enough” (Arnold’s Pump Club). This creates a vicious cycle where we stop doing the things proven to make us feel better, be healthier and live longer.
What’s the solution?
Apparently it is NOT a huge social circle (or scores of “friends” on social media). It is about finding your tribe – people who share your values, beliefs and interests.
It’s hard to disagree with these conclusions as we see it every day at KMD. But I guess it’s nice to see that the research confirms our findings.
What’s new, to me at least, is the scale of the problem of loneliness and the impact it has on our wellbeing.
You all are what makes Krav Maga Detroit an awesome tribe and I’m so thankful for each one of you. And it’s a double whammy because our tribe also values physical training and strengthening our bodies and minds. We’re doing something right guys, let’s keep going.👊 Pawel
