Blue Zones
SUCCESSFUL SURVIVAL
4 pages — 1 —
INTRODUCTION
S U C C E S S
“To laugh often and love much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the approbation of honest critics and
endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To give one’s self;
To find the best in others
To leave the world a bit better whether by
a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and
sung with exultation;
To know that even one life
has breathed easier because you have lived,
This is to have succeeded.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)
INTRODUCTION
A conceptually integrated philosophy for encapsulating the basis of a person’s lifelong SUCCESSFUL SURVIVAL does not exist in 2026. The word “Well-Being,” usually with the hyphen, occurs frequently, as part of an article to enhance understanding of HEALTH. The philosophical origins for “Well-Being” include the writings of Aristotle and Plato, some 2,300 years ago.
Most prominently, Neera Badhwar, Ph. D., wrote an expanded, philosophical analysis of WELL-BEING which was published as a book in 2014. Her definition of Well-Being is most applicable for this Design Epistemology. It represents an application of both the humanitarian and scientific realms of Knowledge that historically apply for promoting a nuanced definition of HEALTH. This includes an acknowledgment of its ethical, moral, and spiritual attributes. Intentionally, this definition identifies the spiritual dimensions for HEALTH (viz.,p,85) as originating from within the person’s Family, its Extended Family, Family Culture, and Close Neighborhood. The spiritual origins for a person’s Stable HEALTH may or may not be connected to a specific religious tradition. However, the impact of their family’s gatherings, its communal character, and its shared awareness about each other’s emotional survival has positive, life-long consequences.
For the purpose of a NATIONAL HEALTH Proposal, these considerations become important as we account for the functional, extended longevity occurring for many resident persons living within certain communities. Now recognized as existing worldwide, these communities have an unusual predominance of persons with highly functional existence lasting for many years after their 90th birthday. The identification of these “Blue Zones” represents the efforts of Dan Buettner to locate these communities and to publish a series of books by the same name beginning in 2010. Malcolm Gladwell described a similar community in Poseto, New York in the “Introductory” pages of his book (OUTLIERS 2008). In short, the unusual attributes of these communities may be described as representing very high levels of Social Capital, as maintained by their Family, its Extended Family, its Family Culture, and its close neighborhood.
NEW DEFINITION
“When defined as a person’s eudaimonia,
Well-Being may then, be defined as
Happiness in an objectively
worthwhile life (Badhwar 2014, p.222).”
Neera K. Badhwar (1946 – )
The evolution of a broadly acceptable definition for Well-Being reflects the western traditions of beneficence and autonomy during each individual person’s survival. The historical origin of these traditions can be traced to Aristotle ( 384 – 322 BC ). At that time, the worldwide population was probably between 10 and 100 million. Since then, it has increased to 8+ billion, most rapidly during the last 100 years. Currently, a millennial understanding of HEALTH will be required as a yard-stick for understanding our worldwide survival with Human Dignity. — 3 —
I am most respectful of the book written by Neera K. Badhwar, Ph. D. and published in 2014. Its title is: “WELL-BEING Happiness in a Worthwhile Life.” It likely represents the most current and carefully considered analysis of Well-Being. Now 200 years later, the poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson, cited above, could be edited to include a sub-title: “A Worthwhile Life.” I have cited a phrase from Chapter 8 of her book to define Well-Being for NATIONAL HEALTH. The use of this definition then becomes the linchpin for an expanded definition of HEALTH.
Now, it is nearly 15 years since Professor Badhwar’s book became available. Since then, the analysis and refinement essays have burgeoned. An expanded review of these essays by Anna Alexandrova, Ph.D. and Mark Fablan, Ph.D. appeared during 2022, entitled as “The Science of Wellbeing (Alexandrova & Fabian 2022).”