Dr. Ellen Langer

So many people are trying to add more years to their lives.

And I think that what we should be doing is adding more life to our years.

And that will end up, I think, in the long run for most people, have us living longer.

But whatever you're going to do, it should be fun.

Now, how could it be fun?

It depends on the way you do it.

Doing it mindfully, actively noticing, it sounds so simple, but that's the essence of engagement.

That's what you're doing when you're having fun.

And it's no work.

That's why I say it's very important to understand mindfulness as we study it has nothing to do with meditation.

If you were to leave California and come back to the East Coast and come visit me at my house, you wouldn't have to practice

being mindful.

You'd walk into my house, you'd be curious.

Oh look, did she do that painting?

This is the book she's read?

Whatever it is you saw, you would notice because you knew you didn't know and you'd be curious.

And, you know, once you're noticing the neurons are firing and that's figuratively and literally enlivening.

So that's all you have to do.

Now, the problem is the world has taught us to divide work and play, for instance.

And that work has to be bad.