The Harvard Gazette, April 2019, included an article titled “Harvard study almost 80 years old, has provided that embracing community helps us live longer and be happier”.

If you are not familiar with the Harvard Study on Aging, here is some background. This study on aging was launched in 1938 with several hundred students.  The intent of the study was to track these students over their lifetime to identify those factors that contributed to good health and happiness over the course of their lifetime.

Over the years, the study was expanded to include spouses and children. They used medical records, in person interviews and questionnaires to gather the data studying health progression, careers and marriages among other things.

It was determined through the study that relationships and community were the drivers of a healthy and happy life.   Not fame or fortune.  The more satisfied in relationships , the more healthy in the later years.

The following Ted Talk summarizes the conclusions of the study.

To summarize the points in the Ted talk,

– Social connections are good for us and loneliness kills.

– The quality of close relationships is what matters, not necessarily the number of relationships. 

– Good relationships protect our brains through aging.

The results of the study are clear.

As I have been learning, community in downtown Houston takes many forms.  From blanket bingo, movie night, the Saturday farmer’s market at Market Square Park that occurs in the spring and fall among others.

Closer to home, community means board game nights with friends, a lawn game on Allen’s landing, celebration of a neighbor’s birthday.

Go back and review the results of the study.   What does that mean for us in our downtown community here in Houston?  Ask yourself, what is your community and how do you engage with it.   Your heath depends on it.