A recent Wall Street Journal essay about longevity highlighted something profound: the people who live healthiest and longest aren’t those who obsess over diets or gadgets, but those who stay socially engaged, curious, and open to others. The author’s parents — one a doctor fluent in multiple languages, the other a therapist with a deep capacity for empathy — showed that “wellness is inherent in the community we inhabit,” and that sharing time with others benefits everyone involved.
That sentiment describes my mom perfectly, especially in her retirement community where she seems to be the “belle of the ball” when I visit her and my 88-year-old dad. Over nearly nine decades, she has welcomed friends and strangers alike with warmth, charm, and genuine interest. She built connections that became community — lunches with friends, conversations with neighbors, kindness shown to family and strangers alike. These aren’t incidental moments; they’re the very fabric of her life.
Her laughter, her curiosity about others, her ability to make you feel seen — these qualities have not only enriched her life but have made everyone around her feel more alive. She embodies the truth that health isn’t something we achieve alone; it’s something we create together.
So here’s to 88 years of generosity, curiosity, connection, and love. May the coming years be filled with more stories around the table, more shared laughter, and more deep friendships that nourish the soul.
Happy Birthday, Mom — we are who we are because of you.
-Chip
P.S. If you want to explore your own longevity, I highly recommend Barb Waxman’s Santa Fe workshop March 1-5, Your Longevity Lifeplan: Live Better, Longer.