By Jorge Manuel Zelaya Fajardo
www.jorgemanuelzelaya.com
May 5th, 2021
"Not how long, but how well he
has lived is the main thing. "
-- Seneca
Paradoxically, this essay,
which will talk about the study that has taken the longest at Harvard
University, will be a short essay. The truth is that it will be short, because
the conclusions of the study are extremely solid and with a high impact.
Harvard University has
conducted a study of 724 men (268 from the Grant Study and 456 from the
Glueck Study) over an uninterrupted period of 75 years that began in the
1940s in the United States. The Grant Study comprised alumni of Harvard
University and The Glueck Study comprised young people from the city of Boston
in difficult social and economic situations.
During all these years, the
study has consisted of rigorous pieces of qualitative and quantitative
information. From medical exams to individual interviews, from family anecdotes
to evaluating personal achievements, from personal finances to relationships with others. All study subjects
are American males of which 60 of them still live (from both groups).
One would think that the most
surprising thing about the study is how it has been able to survive its own
obstacles such as its long time, the
availability of the study subjects, the economic funds to carry it out and even
the directors of the study itself. However, the most surprising thing are the given results.
Robert Waldinger MD, professor
of the Harvard University School of Medicine, is its current director, who expresses with crystal
clarity and outstanding poise the
lessons learned in all these years in such a wonderful study. The books
published by Dr. George Vaillant, the study's first investigator, may be more
in-depth for an intellectually curious reader.
Dr. Waldinger describes that
there are three main lessons learned that end with a great conclusion. The
three big lessons are: a) Social connections are really good for humans.
Loneliness kills. Connecting with others fuels a happier, healthier and longer
life; b) It is not the number of friends and family that counts, but their
quality; c) Good relationships with others not only benefit the body, but also
the mind.
Dr. Waldinger sums up all
three lessons in one great truth: Good relationships with others keep us
happier and healthier.
It is impressive how the
conclusions of such a quantitative study are so qualitative. It is impressive
as our idea that economic success and fame (alone) are like the absolute
key indicators of high performance in today's society. It is impressive how, on
the verge of the rise of artificial intelligence in the fourth industrial
revolution, emotional intelligence takes on a majestic importance.
We are human beings. We are
quite imperfect, but also with an almost infinite capacity for improvement. We
are beings whose central pure energy is love. On second thought, could it be a pandemic a good time to put it into practice?.
What do you think?
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