Call up your mom.
Living on my own, in a city away from my blood line has been a norm for me for the past 10 years—a norm that is often easy to forget how amazing being with family is…and how special the loved ones we have (who are stuck with us no matter what) are just that—stuck with us no matter what.
Family—be it blood relatives or friends who have become family—make life rich.
I’m a firm believer “man was not created to be alone”—and we need people to make life go ‘round (just like we need water, good food and sleep).
Have you ever heard the story of the “Roseto effect?”
A story about community—and how community may actually be the best thing we can do for our own health and well-being (yes, even before eating organic or drinking more water comes into the mix).
Often referred to as “the mystery of the Rosetan people,” essentially, Roseto is a town in Eastern Pennsylvania deemed one of the “healthiest places to live”…but no one could guess why.
The people of Roseto were nothing special and the town was certainly no Austin, Texas (where everyone runs, bikes, hikes, climbs, pumps iron, drinks green juice, buys their meat at the Farmer’s Market, and makes bone broth—or at least knows it’s not just something you buy in a carton at the store).
Roseto was a ho-hum town like most in suburban America—plain Jane water, lots of Average Joe’s with similar income levels and occupations as the rest of the country, diversity. And the people, if anything, were actually pretty unhealthy: Known for smoking, drinking more wine than water, toxic working conditions, diets full with fried sausages and meatballs, salami and cheese (i.e. lacking veggies).
However, when historians have looked over their death certificates—particluarly between the years of 1955-1965, they noted that the Rosetans died less from heart disease than the neighboring, identical towns everywhere else.
Why?
Community. Family-centric.
The Rosetans’ were a community-centric culture, and valued cohesive, deep family and community relationships.
Many people were of Italian descent. who were “all about” family, and in turn, the Rosetans were a fulfilled, enriched and thriving people.
You can read about ‘em for yourself, and while you’re at it, your Day 17 #thrivelife project is this: