Longevity is a word you hear a lot these days.

It tends to mean two very different things. On one hand, there are those—often the ultra-wealthy—who dream of living forever. Life’s so good, they’d rather not have an expiry date at all. Fortunately, Mother Nature still has the final say on that one; otherwise Genghis Khan would still be sowing merry mayhem.

But longevity also covers something far more attainable and worthwhile: maximising our healthspan, not just our lifespan. In other words, being able to move well, think clearly, and stay independent deep into our eighties and beyond. To pick up the grandkids, climb stairs, go for long walks—and ideally, do it all without a bag of prescription medication.

Of course, the temptation is to look for a magic pill. The latest herbal extract, supplement, or superfood that promises youth in a capsule. But deep down, we know the truth: it’s multifactorial.

The communities that consistently live long, healthy lives—the so-called Blue Zones—don’t rely on miracle cures. They live in ways that support all aspects of wellbeing.

From what we know so far, our overall wellness (healthspan + lifespan) is influenced by at least nine interwoven pillars

Environment
Finances
Genetics
Movement
Nutrition
Purpose
Relationships
Sleep
Stress

Some of these we can control; others we can only try to manage. But none of them work in isolation.

A few years ago, I was reminded how much we all would like to find that quick fix. On a family holiday in Telluride, Colorado—9,000 feet above sea level—I found myself short of breath just talking. My wife, ever the spa enthusiast, spotted “Oxygen Therapy” on the treatment list and decided to try it.

Hours later, she came back looking ten years younger. Turned out the staff had forgotten her, and she’d been happily breathing O2 far longer than intended.

Maybe oxygen has unrevealed benefits—or perhaps it’s just a reminder that the simplest things we take for granted are often the ones that keep us feeling most alive.