Do You Know How Important Friends Are to Having a Healthy Life?
Having a community is vital for a long, robust life.
Are you aware that having friends is as essential to your health as diet and exercise?
Much information about being healthy by moving our bodies and eating well is available today. Most of us are well-versed in these areas.
Another way to maintain optimal health that can add years to our lives and life to our years is through our relationships.
These connections are invaluable to our health and well-being — our significant others, children and grandchildren, siblings, church members, and friends.
We must share our thoughts, dreams, vulnerabilities, pain, and successes to feel seen and heard. It doesn’t take an enormous amount of people to form a community. It can be one or two whom you trust and cherish to feel engaged and fulfilled.
Making new friends
I lived in California for over 40 years and was blessed to have a group of friends I regularly connected with and still do.
However, when I moved to Arizona in 2013, I didn’t know any women except for the wives of my new hubby’s friends. These women were pleasant and friendly; however, they already had their friends and busy lives.
Fortunately, I was lucky to meet a neighbor, and Shannon became one of my closest confidantes. We either hiked or walked our dogs on an almost daily basis. This time allowed us to share ideas and news about our children or even gripe a bit.
Sadly for me, Shannon moved almost 1,000 miles away to be near her daughter and grandchildren.
I miss her greatly. However, I’m resilient and have been lucky enough to form other friendships, even before Shannon left.
I’ve developed a wonderful circle of friends through a mutual love of pickleball. Our bond has grown beyond merely playing a sport.
These women buoy me up when I feel down and listen to my complaints without too much eye-rolling (kidding). They also inspire me to play better, listen to my body, and rest when needed.
Of course, a few have been singled out as special to me, and we have become close.
It is a gift I can reciprocate and be there for my pickleball friends, too.
Studies have found that staying physically active also increases your likelihood of staying connected socially.
Do not wait to form a community of people around you — work at finding your peeps now if you don’t already have close pals.
According to the book Younger Next Year — for Women:
Older people who have at least one close friend have cardiovascular systems that are younger by a series of objective measures than those of isolated people. Blood vessels are measurably more elastic, cardiac reserve is higher, cardiac inflammatory protein levels are lower, blood pressure response to exercise is better, and so on.
Women with fewer social connections have fewer circulating immune cells in their blood and weaker immune responses to vaccines.
I don’t know about you, but I want as many “circulating immune cells” as possible, not to mention “elastic blood vessels!”
The Mayo Clinic adds:
Friendship health is the positive impact of having strong social connections on various aspects of physical and mental well-being. Some of the benefits of friendship include:
- Lowering the risk of depression, high blood pressure, BMI, and heart disease.
- Enhancing life satisfaction, self-esteem, and companionship.
- Providing emotional and practical support.
- Helping you cope with traumas and make lifestyle changes.
My supportive relationships enhance my life in various ways. We share our love for a sport, inviting better health and well-being.
It is easier to bear the ups and downs of everyday life, and the joy and heartache when an interested ear listens and a kind heart is present.
Of course, we also gain immeasurably by giving back with our caring, kindness, laughs, and deep conversations.
This camaraderie is priceless; its health benefits go beyond anything medication can do.