Illustration by Merijn Hos
We’re Obsessed With Living Longer, But What About Living Better?
A week at a blue-zone retreat in Sardinia lays bare the tensions between longevity and loneliness.
Leaving the library one afternoon, I brushed past a man with silver hair, only to realize later that he was a friend — someone I’ve repeatedly made and canceled plans with over the past year. I almost didn’t recognize him. In the time we’ve spent comparing calendars, we’ve both gotten older.
Back home, I study my own roots in the mirror and book an appointment for highlights. I shell out for a red LED face mask that makes my husband slightly afraid of me. Anxiety about aging must be reflected in my Google searches, because I’m served an ad on Instagram from the Great Wellbeing, a company that offers five-day retreats in Sardinia inspired by the island’s famous longevity.