our experience of longevity is an inherently social one we don’t get
inherently social one we don’t get
inherently social one we don’t get through this life without each other
through this life without each other
through this life without each other from the moment we’re born until we take
from the moment we’re born until we take
from the moment we’re born until we take our last breaths our lives are
our last breaths our lives are
our last breaths our lives are intertwined and reliant on fellow humans
intertwined and reliant on fellow humans
intertwined and reliant on fellow humans but we don’t talk much about how vital
but we don’t talk much about how vital
but we don’t talk much about how vital these connections are and how to create
these connections are and how to create
these connections are and how to create and maintain them throughout our new
and maintain them throughout our new
and maintain them throughout our new longer lives but the fact is the more
longer lives but the fact is the more
longer lives but the fact is the more connected we are the happier and
connected we are the happier and
connected we are the happier and healthier and longer our lives will be
healthier and longer our lives will be
healthier and longer our lives will be let me tell you about my personal
let me tell you about my personal
let me tell you about my personal learning journey with social connection
learning journey with social connection
learning journey with social connection I’m a retired army brat which means for
I’m a retired army brat which means for
I’m a retired army brat which means for the first 13 years of my life I moved
the first 13 years of my life I moved
the first 13 years of my life I moved five times and went to six different
five times and went to six different
five times and went to six different schools and I learned the hard way how
schools and I learned the hard way how
schools and I learned the hard way how to make friends wherever I go and it
to make friends wherever I go and it
to make friends wherever I go and it didn’t help that I’m extremely
didn’t help that I’m extremely
didn’t help that I’m extremely introverted and my teachers inevitably
introverted and my teachers inevitably
introverted and my teachers inevitably wrote things like he’s really quiet and
wrote things like he’s really quiet and
wrote things like he’s really quiet and shy and she reads books during recess
shy and she reads books during recess
shy and she reads books during recess and I never felt disconnected until
and I never felt disconnected until
and I never felt disconnected until about fifth grade at the time we were
about fifth grade at the time we were
about fifth grade at the time we were stationed in Germany I went to German
stationed in Germany I went to German
stationed in Germany I went to German schools with my German friends and spoke
schools with my German friends and spoke
schools with my German friends and spoke only German and then we got stationed to
only German and then we got stationed to
only German and then we got stationed to Hawaii and I was so excited only to get
Hawaii and I was so excited only to get
Hawaii and I was so excited only to get there and experience huge cultural shock
there and experience huge cultural shock
there and experience huge cultural shock not only did I first realize that I
not only did I first realize that I
not only did I first realize that I spoke English with a German accent but I
spoke English with a German accent but I
spoke English with a German accent but I missed my friends terribly and cried
missed my friends terribly and cried
missed my friends terribly and cried myself to sleep every night and I never
myself to sleep every night and I never
myself to sleep every night and I never called it loneliness because I was
called it loneliness because I was
called it loneliness because I was surrounded by new kids at my new school
surrounded by new kids at my new school
surrounded by new kids at my new school and in my neighborhood but I did feel
and in my neighborhood but I did feel
and in my neighborhood but I did feel that disconnection physically and my
that disconnection physically and my
that disconnection physically and my mom’s advice to me at the time was Amy
mom’s advice to me at the time was Amy
mom’s advice to me at the time was Amy to have a friend you have to be a friend
to have a friend you have to be a friend
to have a friend you have to be a friend and I took that to heart and what I also
and I took that to heart and what I also
and I took that to heart and what I also learned from that lonely year is that
learned from that lonely year is that
learned from that lonely year is that our social connections aren’t always
our social connections aren’t always
our social connections aren’t always permanent they’re fluid and
permanent they’re fluid and
permanent they’re fluid and ever-changing and require nurturing and
ever-changing and require nurturing and
ever-changing and require nurturing and replacing from that painful experience I
replacing from that painful experience I
replacing from that painful experience I began to develop and learn the social
began to develop and learn the social
began to develop and learn the social skills and habits that I needed for the
skills and habits that I needed for the
skills and habits that I needed for the rest of my life and I feel like if
rest of my life and I feel like if
rest of my life and I feel like if someone with those dorky haircuts and
someone with those dorky haircuts and
someone with those dorky haircuts and braces and bad choice and clothes can do
braces and bad choice and clothes can do
braces and bad choice and clothes can do it anyone can but I bet your story’s not
it anyone can but I bet your story’s not
it anyone can but I bet your story’s not exactly like mine but I do imagine that
exactly like mine but I do imagine that
exactly like mine but I do imagine that you’ve seen some of these headlines
you’ve seen some of these headlines
you’ve seen some of these headlines loneliness and social isolation is
loneliness and social isolation is
loneliness and social isolation is becoming a growing problem in our world
becoming a growing problem in our world
becoming a growing problem in our world today and it’s so easy to feel sympathy
today and it’s so easy to feel sympathy
today and it’s so easy to feel sympathy for the people described in these
for the people described in these
for the people described in these articles but I think it’s also really
articles but I think it’s also really
articles but I think it’s also really easy to feel separate and different from
easy to feel separate and different from
easy to feel separate and different from them that somehow that’s not us that’ll
them that somehow that’s not us that’ll
them that somehow that’s not us that’ll never be me but if we’re all honest with
never be me but if we’re all honest with
never be me but if we’re all honest with ourselves we all feel socially
ourselves we all feel socially
ourselves we all feel socially disconnected sometimes and if we can’t
disconnected sometimes and if we can’t
disconnected sometimes and if we can’t do something about it
do something about it
do something about it that can lead to loneliness isolation
that can lead to loneliness isolation
that can lead to loneliness isolation and being a part of these headlines
and being a part of these headlines
and being a part of these headlines we’re all just one move one job changed
we’re all just one move one job changed
we’re all just one move one job changed one divorce one illness one death away
one divorce one illness one death away
one divorce one illness one death away from feeling disconnected of not
from feeling disconnected of not
from feeling disconnected of not belonging of reaching to call someone
belonging of reaching to call someone
belonging of reaching to call someone only to realize that they’re not there
only to realize that they’re not there
only to realize that they’re not there for you anymore so we need to redefine
for you anymore so we need to redefine
for you anymore so we need to redefine social connection for ourselves and make
social connection for ourselves and make
social connection for ourselves and make it personal social disconnection can
it personal social disconnection can
it personal social disconnection can lead to social isolation which is
lead to social isolation which is
lead to social isolation which is physically not being around other people
physically not being around other people
physically not being around other people not having support but it can also lead
not having support but it can also lead
not having support but it can also lead to loneliness which is a feeling of not
to loneliness which is a feeling of not
to loneliness which is a feeling of not belonging even in the midst of others
belonging even in the midst of others
belonging even in the midst of others and I wanted to spell one of the most
and I wanted to spell one of the most
and I wanted to spell one of the most common myths about social isolation and
common myths about social isolation and
common myths about social isolation and loneliness today it does not just affect
loneliness today it does not just affect
loneliness today it does not just affect old people research says that Americans
old people research says that Americans
old people research says that Americans of all ages can be and are socially
of all ages can be and are socially
of all ages can be and are socially disconnected in fact the group that
disconnected in fact the group that
disconnected in fact the group that repeatedly reports the highest
repeatedly reports the highest
repeatedly reports the highest prevalence of loneliness is our young
prevalence of loneliness is our young
prevalence of loneliness is our young people when I think about what social
people when I think about what social
people when I think about what social disconnection feels like it reminds me
disconnection feels like it reminds me
disconnection feels like it reminds me of hunger when
of hunger when
of hunger when feel hungry you get something to eat and
feel hungry you get something to eat and
feel hungry you get something to eat and the feeling goes away and if you feel
the feeling goes away and if you feel
the feeling goes away and if you feel hungry and don’t eat something yeah
hungry and don’t eat something yeah
hungry and don’t eat something yeah you’ll lose some weight but slowly begin
you’ll lose some weight but slowly begin
you’ll lose some weight but slowly begin to starve likewise when we repeatedly
to starve likewise when we repeatedly
to starve likewise when we repeatedly ignore these feelings of disconnection
ignore these feelings of disconnection
ignore these feelings of disconnection it can lead to loneliness isolation
it can lead to loneliness isolation
it can lead to loneliness isolation depression illness and even death
depression illness and even death
depression illness and even death our culture stigmatizes loneliness so
our culture stigmatizes loneliness so
our culture stigmatizes loneliness so much that so few of us will admit to
much that so few of us will admit to
much that so few of us will admit to feeling it and then we can’t address the
feeling it and then we can’t address the
feeling it and then we can’t address the problem instead we like to distract
problem instead we like to distract
problem instead we like to distract ourselves with easier and less risky
ourselves with easier and less risky
ourselves with easier and less risky tasks or even take a pill to make the
tasks or even take a pill to make the
tasks or even take a pill to make the feeling go away the Stanford center on
feeling go away the Stanford center on
feeling go away the Stanford center on longevity sightlines research has found
longevity sightlines research has found
longevity sightlines research has found that Americans about half of all
that Americans about half of all
that Americans about half of all Americans are doing the active things
Americans are doing the active things
Americans are doing the active things they need to do to remain socially
they need to do to remain socially
they need to do to remain socially engaged which is fantastic but it also
engaged which is fantastic but it also
engaged which is fantastic but it also means that half of us are not social
means that half of us are not social
means that half of us are not social disconnection is such a problem and we
disconnection is such a problem and we
disconnection is such a problem and we know social isolation and loneliness can
know social isolation and loneliness can
know social isolation and loneliness can make us sick but did you know it’s as
make us sick but did you know it’s as
make us sick but did you know it’s as risky as smoking that it’s twice as
risky as smoking that it’s twice as
risky as smoking that it’s twice as fatal as being obese that it increases
fatal as being obese that it increases
fatal as being obese that it increases our risk factor for a variety of
our risk factor for a variety of
our risk factor for a variety of diseases including heart disease stroke
diseases including heart disease stroke
diseases including heart disease stroke cognitive decline dementia depression
cognitive decline dementia depression
cognitive decline dementia depression suicide and death our bodies and minds
suicide and death our bodies and minds
suicide and death our bodies and minds need social connection and half of us in
need social connection and half of us in
need social connection and half of us in our country aren’t getting enough so the
our country aren’t getting enough so the
our country aren’t getting enough so the first step I feel is really redefining
first step I feel is really redefining
first step I feel is really redefining what social connection means to you and
what social connection means to you and
what social connection means to you and personalizing it so that you can have
personalizing it so that you can have
personalizing it so that you can have better social health another common
better social health another common
better social health another common misperception is that somehow our social
misperception is that somehow our social
misperception is that somehow our social relationships should happen naturally
relationships should happen naturally
relationships should happen naturally and without any effort or intention it’s
and without any effort or intention it’s
and without any effort or intention it’s interesting to me that in the areas of
interesting to me that in the areas of
interesting to me that in the areas of physical health or financial planning we
physical health or financial planning we
physical health or financial planning we know what we need to do to be healthy
know what we need to do to be healthy
know what we need to do to be healthy and happy and live longer lives I know
and happy and live longer lives I know
and happy and live longer lives I know I’m supposed to exercise more I know
I’m supposed to exercise more I know
I’m supposed to exercise more I know exactly what foods I’m supposed to eat I
exactly what foods I’m supposed to eat I
exactly what foods I’m supposed to eat I know it’s supposed to work longer and I
know it’s supposed to work longer and I
know it’s supposed to work longer and I know I’m supposed to save more but what
know I’m supposed to save more but what
know I’m supposed to save more but what is my recommended daily social
is my recommended daily social
is my recommended daily social allowance of social connectedness so as
allowance of social connectedness so as
allowance of social connectedness so as we think about our social connections we
we think about our social connections we
we think about our social connections we need to prioritize them and make them as
need to prioritize them and make them as
need to prioritize them and make them as important as the other things we do for
important as the other things we do for
important as the other things we do for our health we need to build our lives
our health we need to build our lives
our health we need to build our lives around a range of social ties starting
around a range of social ties starting
around a range of social ties starting from the center circle these close
from the center circle these close
from the center circle these close intimates are significant others all the
intimates are significant others all the
intimates are significant others all the way out through the outer circles of
way out through the outer circles of
way out through the outer circles of acquaintances and significant
acquaintances and significant
acquaintances and significant excuse me familiars each of these types
excuse me familiars each of these types
excuse me familiars each of these types of ties plays an important role in
of ties plays an important role in
of ties plays an important role in creating a diverse social portfolio and
creating a diverse social portfolio and
creating a diverse social portfolio and we need both the depth of the intimates
we need both the depth of the intimates
we need both the depth of the intimates our spouses our partners our close
our spouses our partners our close
our spouses our partners our close friends and families as well as those in
friends and families as well as those in
friends and families as well as those in the outer rings in our web of contacts
the outer rings in our web of contacts
the outer rings in our web of contacts and keep in mind as we get older and go
and keep in mind as we get older and go
and keep in mind as we get older and go through life transitions we’re going to
through life transitions we’re going to
through life transitions we’re going to depend more and more on those inner
depend more and more on those inner
depend more and more on those inner circles the inevitable life transitions
circles the inevitable life transitions
circles the inevitable life transitions we all go through will require us again
we all go through will require us again
we all go through will require us again and again to recreate our social
and again to recreate our social
and again to recreate our social networks certainly difficult life
networks certainly difficult life
networks certainly difficult life transitions like illness or divorce or
transitions like illness or divorce or
transitions like illness or divorce or death will challenge our social
death will challenge our social
death will challenge our social portfolio but even happy milestones like
portfolio but even happy milestones like
portfolio but even happy milestones like getting married or retiring can disrupt
getting married or retiring can disrupt
getting married or retiring can disrupt our social connections and ways that are
our social connections and ways that are
our social connections and ways that are difficult and stressful that happened to
difficult and stressful that happened to
difficult and stressful that happened to me when I had a new baby when I was a
me when I had a new baby when I was a
me when I had a new baby when I was a new mom I left a job I loved to take
new mom I left a job I loved to take
new mom I left a job I loved to take care of my firstborn and it was a
care of my firstborn and it was a
care of my firstborn and it was a decision I made with absolute joy and
decision I made with absolute joy and
decision I made with absolute joy and certainty and with the new baby came a
certainty and with the new baby came a
certainty and with the new baby came a new home and my husband took a new job
new home and my husband took a new job
new home and my husband took a new job that required more travel and next thing
that required more travel and next thing
that required more travel and next thing you know it was me and a baby sitting at
you know it was me and a baby sitting at
you know it was me and a baby sitting at home alone a lot and I didn’t know what
home alone a lot and I didn’t know what
home alone a lot and I didn’t know what I was doing so I joined a parent
I was doing so I joined a parent
I was doing so I joined a parent education class and one day the
education class and one day the
education class and one day the insightful teacher asked us this
insightful teacher asked us this
insightful teacher asked us this question who is your community and none
question who is your community and none
question who is your community and none of us could answer
of us could answer
of us could answer the moms and I were sitting on the floor
the moms and I were sitting on the floor
the moms and I were sitting on the floor holding our infants and she had to get
holding our infants and she had to get
holding our infants and she had to get more specific all right write down the
more specific all right write down the
more specific all right write down the name of someone in this room that could
name of someone in this room that could
name of someone in this room that could call you if they needed anything well
call you if they needed anything well
call you if they needed anything well that was pretty easy I picked my new
that was pretty easy I picked my new
that was pretty easy I picked my new friend Joyce I’d only met her a couple
friend Joyce I’d only met her a couple
friend Joyce I’d only met her a couple months ago and all I know about her was
months ago and all I know about her was
months ago and all I know about her was that she had a son around the same age
that she had a son around the same age
that she had a son around the same age as I did
as I did
as I did she lived nearby and she was fun to talk
she lived nearby and she was fun to talk
she lived nearby and she was fun to talk to so I wrote her name down with pride
to so I wrote her name down with pride
to so I wrote her name down with pride because I felt like I was being a good
because I felt like I was being a good
because I felt like I was being a good friend for her and then the teacher
friend for her and then the teacher
friend for her and then the teacher asked the next question write down the
asked the next question write down the
asked the next question write down the name of someone that you will call when
name of someone that you will call when
name of someone that you will call when you need help even if it’s at 3:00 a.m.
you need help even if it’s at 3:00 a.m.
you need help even if it’s at 3:00 a.m. and I couldn’t do it
and I couldn’t do it
and I couldn’t do it the thought of burdening these near
the thought of burdening these near
the thought of burdening these near strangers with my problems was too much
strangers with my problems was too much
strangers with my problems was too much for me and Joyce who happened to be
for me and Joyce who happened to be
for me and Joyce who happened to be sitting next to me peeked over at my
sitting next to me peeked over at my
sitting next to me peeked over at my blank page and whacked me on the arm you
blank page and whacked me on the arm you
blank page and whacked me on the arm you better put my name down don’t you know I
better put my name down don’t you know I
better put my name down don’t you know I want you to call me don’t you know that
want you to call me don’t you know that
want you to call me don’t you know that and it stunned me because as a 35 year
and it stunned me because as a 35 year
and it stunned me because as a 35 year old woman I realized for the first time
old woman I realized for the first time
old woman I realized for the first time that friendship isn’t just being there
that friendship isn’t just being there
that friendship isn’t just being there for each other
for each other
for each other or for someone else but it’s allowing
or for someone else but it’s allowing
or for someone else but it’s allowing someone else to help you and being
someone else to help you and being
someone else to help you and being vulnerable F to ask for that help and
vulnerable F to ask for that help and
vulnerable F to ask for that help and Joyce is still one of the first people I
Joyce is still one of the first people I
Joyce is still one of the first people I call what I need help so as our social
call what I need help so as our social
call what I need help so as our social circumstances change and as we go
circumstances change and as we go
circumstances change and as we go through life’s transitions our social
through life’s transitions our social
through life’s transitions our social needs change too and it’s important to
needs change too and it’s important to
needs change too and it’s important to prioritize your social health much like
prioritize your social health much like
prioritize your social health much like we do our physical and financial you
we do our physical and financial you
we do our physical and financial you probably are thinking I have 500 friends
probably are thinking I have 500 friends
probably are thinking I have 500 friends in my online social network and that’s
in my online social network and that’s
in my online social network and that’s great for some things but their research
great for some things but their research
great for some things but their research is really on the fence about whether
is really on the fence about whether
is really on the fence about whether these extensive online interactions we
these extensive online interactions we
these extensive online interactions we have will provide the level of support
have will provide the level of support
have will provide the level of support meaning and connection that we’ll need
meaning and connection that we’ll need
meaning and connection that we’ll need throughout our lives keep in mind that
throughout our lives keep in mind that
throughout our lives keep in mind that even when we have hundreds of friends
even when we have hundreds of friends
even when we have hundreds of friends you can still feel lonely so it’s
you can still feel lonely so it’s
you can still feel lonely so it’s important to remember that it’s not just
important to remember that it’s not just
important to remember that it’s not just the quantity of
the quantity of
the quantity of chips we’re looking for we’re looking
chips we’re looking for we’re looking
chips we’re looking for we’re looking for quality and depth of connection and
for quality and depth of connection and
for quality and depth of connection and a sense of support that we can give each
a sense of support that we can give each
a sense of support that we can give each other research has found some of the
other research has found some of the
other research has found some of the best ways to do this are to develop
best ways to do this are to develop
best ways to do this are to develop meaningful relationships with our
meaningful relationships with our
meaningful relationships with our spouses and partners and significant
spouses and partners and significant
spouses and partners and significant others and friends and family how do you
others and friends and family how do you
others and friends and family how do you do this
do this
do this spend more time with each other support
spend more time with each other support
spend more time with each other support each other ask for help and feel like
each other ask for help and feel like
each other ask for help and feel like you get support from them
you get support from them
you get support from them the other thing we can do is participate
the other thing we can do is participate
the other thing we can do is participate in purposeful activities and groups
in purposeful activities and groups
in purposeful activities and groups volunteering it’s what we do at work in
volunteering it’s what we do at work in
volunteering it’s what we do at work in our neighborhoods and communities my
our neighborhoods and communities my
our neighborhoods and communities my colleagues and I have found that over
colleagues and I have found that over
colleagues and I have found that over all about half of Americans are doing
all about half of Americans are doing
all about half of Americans are doing what they need to be doing and half art
what they need to be doing and half art
what they need to be doing and half art and we’re we’re doing well is with our
and we’re we’re doing well is with our
and we’re we’re doing well is with our families and our spouses but where we
families and our spouses but where we
families and our spouses but where we need a lot of work is with supportive
need a lot of work is with supportive
need a lot of work is with supportive friendships and being engaged in our
friendships and being engaged in our
friendships and being engaged in our communities another way to get at this
communities another way to get at this
communities another way to get at this depth of connection is through
depth of connection is through
depth of connection is through intergenerational relationships we
intergenerational relationships we
intergenerational relationships we should be interacting on a daily basis
should be interacting on a daily basis
should be interacting on a daily basis with people of all ages in our
with people of all ages in our
with people of all ages in our workplaces in our schools and in our
workplaces in our schools and in our
workplaces in our schools and in our neighborhoods but because our culture
neighborhoods but because our culture
neighborhoods but because our culture has separated the young and the old in
has separated the young and the old in
has separated the young and the old in such artificial ways it’s created a
such artificial ways it’s created a
such artificial ways it’s created a separation and it prevents us from
separation and it prevents us from
separation and it prevents us from having some of these close social bonds
having some of these close social bonds
having some of these close social bonds our kids attend schools where it’s hard
our kids attend schools where it’s hard
our kids attend schools where it’s hard to find anyone over the age of 50 and
to find anyone over the age of 50 and
to find anyone over the age of 50 and entire neighborhoods and communities and
entire neighborhoods and communities and
entire neighborhoods and communities and buildings are exclusively for older
buildings are exclusively for older
buildings are exclusively for older adults and by separating the young and
adults and by separating the young and
adults and by separating the young and the old we’ve created isolation for both
the old we’ve created isolation for both
the old we’ve created isolation for both our elders and our youth my grandma’s 98
our elders and our youth my grandma’s 98
our elders and our youth my grandma’s 98 years old
years old
years old she lives alone in a very rural part of
she lives alone in a very rural part of
she lives alone in a very rural part of the country she doesn’t eat right
the country she doesn’t eat right
the country she doesn’t eat right she doesn’t exercise she doesn’t have a
she doesn’t exercise she doesn’t have a
she doesn’t exercise she doesn’t have a lot of money she’s buried two husbands
lot of money she’s buried two husbands
lot of money she’s buried two husbands after caring for each of them for years
after caring for each of them for years
after caring for each of them for years and her friends from her youth and
and her friends from her youth and
and her friends from her youth and midlife have all passed away and you’d
midlife have all passed away and you’d
midlife have all passed away and you’d think she’d be the poster child for that
think she’d be the poster child for that
think she’d be the poster child for that lonely older adult but she’s not
lonely older adult but she’s not
lonely older adult but she’s not and the reason is it’s because she
and the reason is it’s because she
and the reason is it’s because she continues to volunteer in the local
continues to volunteer in the local
continues to volunteer in the local nursing home for the old people she’s
nursing home for the old people she’s
nursing home for the old people she’s active in her church
active in her church
active in her church she has card games with the girls who
she has card games with the girls who
she has card games with the girls who were twenty and thirty years younger
were twenty and thirty years younger
were twenty and thirty years younger than she is
than she is
than she is these are her new friends my grandma is
these are her new friends my grandma is
these are her new friends my grandma is probably the best example I know of
probably the best example I know of
probably the best example I know of someone who has a rich and connected
someone who has a rich and connected
someone who has a rich and connected life and is happier and healthier and
life and is happier and healthier and
life and is happier and healthier and longer lived because of it I aspire to
longer lived because of it I aspire to
longer lived because of it I aspire to be like her when I grow up to keep an
be like her when I grow up to keep an
be like her when I grow up to keep an open heart to new relationships of all
open heart to new relationships of all
open heart to new relationships of all ages and to keep lending a hand wherever
ages and to keep lending a hand wherever
ages and to keep lending a hand wherever I can in ways that provide purpose and
I can in ways that provide purpose and
I can in ways that provide purpose and meaning in my life but I’m still a work
meaning in my life but I’m still a work
meaning in my life but I’m still a work in progress I’m still building on the
in progress I’m still building on the
in progress I’m still building on the lessons that I learned as a young child
lessons that I learned as a young child
lessons that I learned as a young child and as a new mom and from watching my
and as a new mom and from watching my
and as a new mom and from watching my grandmother but what can we all do to
grandmother but what can we all do to
grandmother but what can we all do to have better social engagement and health
have better social engagement and health
have better social engagement and health and connection I’ll leave you with three
and connection I’ll leave you with three
and connection I’ll leave you with three thoughts redefine what social connection
thoughts redefine what social connection
thoughts redefine what social connection means for you and make it personal
means for you and make it personal
means for you and make it personal loneliness and social isolation are not
loneliness and social isolation are not
loneliness and social isolation are not just happening to other people or old
just happening to other people or old
just happening to other people or old people we all can feel disconnected
people we all can feel disconnected
people we all can feel disconnected sometimes and we need to build and learn
sometimes and we need to build and learn
sometimes and we need to build and learn and practice these social skills for
and practice these social skills for
and practice these social skills for ourselves and then model them for others
ourselves and then model them for others
ourselves and then model them for others especially our youth like my mom and
especially our youth like my mom and
especially our youth like my mom and grandma do for me
grandma do for me
grandma do for me second prioritize your social health we
second prioritize your social health we
second prioritize your social health we need to put as much intention and effort
need to put as much intention and effort
need to put as much intention and effort into this as we do our physical health
into this as we do our physical health
into this as we do our physical health and financial planning make time in your
and financial planning make time in your
and financial planning make time in your day for each other how much only you can
day for each other how much only you can
day for each other how much only you can tell but remember that half of us aren’t
tell but remember that half of us aren’t
tell but remember that half of us aren’t getting enough and finally it’s not just
getting enough and finally it’s not just
getting enough and finally it’s not just quantity that matters we really are
quantity that matters we really are
quantity that matters we really are looking for quality of relationships and
looking for quality of relationships and
looking for quality of relationships and the way to do this is to reach across
the way to do this is to reach across
the way to do this is to reach across the age span have meaningful
the age span have meaningful
the age span have meaningful relationships with people of all ages
relationships with people of all ages
relationships with people of all ages and participate together in purposeful
and participate together in purposeful
and participate together in purposeful activities so few of us so far are
activities so few of us so far are
activities so few of us so far are beating the drum that says go spend time
beating the drum that says go spend time
beating the drum that says go spend time with your
with your
with your friends support each other rely on each
friends support each other rely on each
friends support each other rely on each other volunteer together with the
other volunteer together with the
other volunteer together with the message that these things are vital for
message that these things are vital for
message that these things are vital for your health happiness and longevity now
your health happiness and longevity now
your health happiness and longevity now I know more than most but I’m sure you
I know more than most but I’m sure you
I know more than most but I’m sure you know too even when we know all the right
know too even when we know all the right
know too even when we know all the right things to do we don’t always do them and
things to do we don’t always do them and
things to do we don’t always do them and I find it interesting that there’s so
I find it interesting that there’s so
I find it interesting that there’s so many ways to track my progress or lack
many ways to track my progress or lack
many ways to track my progress or lack thereof in physical health and financial
thereof in physical health and financial
thereof in physical health and financial planning my wearable can tell me I don’t
planning my wearable can tell me I don’t
planning my wearable can tell me I don’t get enough exercise and how much more I
get enough exercise and how much more I
get enough exercise and how much more I need to get in that day and web sites
need to get in that day and web sites
need to get in that day and web sites can tell me how much I need to save for
can tell me how much I need to save for
can tell me how much I need to save for my retirement
my retirement
my retirement but what is there to measure the sense
but what is there to measure the sense
but what is there to measure the sense of support I feel or the quality of the
of support I feel or the quality of the
of support I feel or the quality of the relationships that I have where’s the
relationships that I have where’s the
relationships that I have where’s the technology to measure and monitor
technology to measure and monitor
technology to measure and monitor something as subjective and personal but
something as subjective and personal but
something as subjective and personal but is important and vital as our social
is important and vital as our social
is important and vital as our social connections so I leave you it’s this
connections so I leave you it’s this
connections so I leave you it’s this last question what if we put as much
last question what if we put as much
last question what if we put as much focus and effort on our social health as
focus and effort on our social health as
focus and effort on our social health as we do our physical health and our
we do our physical health and our
we do our physical health and our financial health
financial health
financial health what if designers and entrepreneurs
what if designers and entrepreneurs
what if designers and entrepreneurs created new ways not just of measuring
created new ways not just of measuring
created new ways not just of measuring and monitoring but motivating healthy
and monitoring but motivating healthy
and monitoring but motivating healthy social behavior
social behavior
social behavior what if employers offered social
what if employers offered social
what if employers offered social wellness programs where financial
wellness programs where financial
wellness programs where financial advisors included social connectedness
advisors included social connectedness
advisors included social connectedness as a part of their retirement planning
as a part of their retirement planning
as a part of their retirement planning programs
programs
programs what if communities and cities could
what if communities and cities could
what if communities and cities could restructure our schools in ways that
restructure our schools in ways that
restructure our schools in ways that allowed for intergenerational contact
allowed for intergenerational contact
allowed for intergenerational contact and what if our health care plans were
and what if our health care plans were
and what if our health care plans were able to include social connectedness as
able to include social connectedness as
able to include social connectedness as a part of our overall well-being
a part of our overall well-being
a part of our overall well-being measurement we all play an important
measurement we all play an important
measurement we all play an important role in promoting the lifelong health
role in promoting the lifelong health
role in promoting the lifelong health habits of social engagement invest in
habits of social engagement invest in
habits of social engagement invest in yourself
yourself
yourself invest in your future selves by
invest in your future selves by
invest in your future selves by prioritizing social relationships in
prioritizing social relationships in
prioritizing social relationships in your life and remember your happier
your life and remember your happier
your life and remember your happier healthier and longer life depends on it
healthier and longer life depends on it
healthier and longer life depends on it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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