Tribe: the missing key to a long life

Longevity is the new cool-aid we are all seeking to drink. With some people talking about never dying, at the very least most of us ought to live a very long life.

When it comes to living long, we talk about sleep. We talk about food. We talk about movement.

But we rarely talk about the rhythm of our social lives.

It matters more than we think. Human beings evolved in tribes. We woke up together. We ate together. We worked and rested in sync.

Life moved in patterns, guided by the rising sun and the setting moon. Today, we live in chaos. Meetings at odd hours. Meals alone. Conversations through screens. The body struggles to keep up.

The brain craves rhythm. Not just in sleep, but in social interaction.

Loneliness disrupts homeostasis. Studies show that social isolation increases stress hormones. It raises inflammation. It accelerates aging.

A lonely heart beats differently. It tires faster. It fails sooner. There are innumerable statistics of ageing countries suffering from lonliness.

Our ancestors had rituals. Morning gatherings. Communal eating. Shared rest.

These patterns synchronized their nervous systems. Oxytocin levels rose. Stress fell. The body felt safe. Today, we have lost this. No fixed meal times. No predictable human contact. No rhythm. Just randomness.

I am equally to blame. I eat breakfast at 7, my kids dont eat breakfast at all. I eat dinner at five. My kids at eight. It is impossible to sync our eating patterns.

We need to rebuild. Eat with people. At the same time, every day. Share morning routines. Align sleep patterns with family. Walk together. Talk without distraction. These simple acts reset the nervous system. They restore balance. They extend life.

Longevity is not just about diet and exercise. It is about connection. Not just in moments, but in rhythm. Find your tribe. Move together. Rest together. Breathe together.

It may be the missing key to a longer, healthier life.

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain