a world map is shown on a wall.

The quest to live a long and fulfilling life has been one of humanity’s oldest dreams. Throughout history, we have sought out ways to live longer and improve our lifespan quality. Studies suggest that only 20 percent of people reaching their 90s and past 100 (called centenarians) possess the longevity gene. What about the other 80 percent? Is it healthy lifestyle choices, environment, attitude, or a bit of luck?The Japanese Ikigai is one example of an incredible discovery which was made as a result of this research – it has been found to add to longevity. The concept, which means “a reason for living”, comes from the remote Japanese island of Okinawa. A keen sense of purpose helps islanders feel that there is reason to get up and do what needs to get done each morning. According to the research, knowing your sense of purpose may be worth at least seven years of extra life expectancy.Okinawa belongs to one of five regions of the world that are called “Blue Zones”*. The term refers to geographic areas in which