葫芦影业

Have you ever wondered what it would take to live to be 100 years old?

Assistant Professor Kristen Foltz and Assistant Teaching Professor Theresa MacNeil, both in the Department of Communication, may have found some answers while researching Blue Zones in Costa Rica.

Blue Zones are geographical clusters where many people live longer than the typical 81-year life expectancy, with many living more than 100 years.

The five established Blue Zones are in Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California.

Foltz and MacNeil traveled to Costa Rica from June 23 to July 1 and interviewed 10 centenarians. As professors who teach conflict resolution, they chose to do something different from previous Blue Zone research. Rather than trying to find the perfect formula of diet, exercise and genetics, they used their specialty to discover shared cultural values among the centenarians that may contribute to their longevity.

鈥淭he biggest takeaway was the main theme that even if someone harms you, try to work out your relationship with them, and if not, let it go, forgive them and do not hold resentment in your heart,鈥� said MacNeil.

鈥淭here was (a) centenarian, Francisco, who talked about how his brother-in-law stole everything in his house,鈥� she added. 鈥淗e said he forgave him, and even paid for his funeral, though he mentioned he didn't continue to talk with him.鈥�

Their biggest discovery was the connection between emotional well-being to living a long life. These centenarians all shared the traits of prioritizing forgiveness, leaning on their spirituality and letting go of negativity.听

They practice this by addressing issues directly or even avoiding them, forgiving and moving forward. Forgiveness doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean rekindling a relationship or accepting a certain behavior, but releasing the emotional weight to reduce stress and improve mental health. None of them are scared of death; they pray and are overall very spiritual.

Nine of the 10 centenarians interviewed live below the poverty line; most grew up working in sugar cane fields, yet have lived long, fulfilled lives.

鈥淚 think that just goes to the power of positive thinking,鈥� said Foltz. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need a lot of things to be happy.鈥�

One woman, who is 101 years old, commented that she has just started to feel 鈥渙ld.鈥� However, she is looking forward to attending her 4-year-old great-great-nephew鈥檚 high school graduation in the future.

At 104 years old, a man is taking care of his diabetic son who lost one of his legs.

鈥淗e was talking about how he wants to work again, he wants to have a job,鈥� said MacNeil. 鈥淚t's really incredible.鈥�

The oldest person they talked to, at 117 years old, said he wanted to live to be 200. Yet another centenarian said she was worried about getting old.

鈥淚 went down there with no expectations 鈥� but to really get into their lives and sit in their homes and meet their family members and talk to them, their stories made an imprint on me,鈥� Foltz said.听

Foltz and MacNeil have started to apply their findings into both their personal and professional lives. They have adopted principles such as letting go of resentment, directly addressing problems, staying calm during conflict and making lifestyle shifts. Foltz teaches these concepts to her students in a graduate course in conflict resolution.

鈥淭he class explores the theory of conflict but also teaches the skills needed to navigate it,鈥� said Foltz. 鈥淚 shared the project on the first night, and ever since, we reference it.鈥澨�

These principles aren鈥檛 exclusive to age or those living in Costa Rica, but can be implemented any time, anywhere in their daily lives.

鈥淚t was a life-changing experience,鈥� said Foltz.