R stands for Relationships.
Nurture good relationships.
Cultivate a confidante.
Find a community you want to be a part of.
Contribute to your fellow person in whichever way brings you the most joy and fulfilment.
Loneliness is as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day — and smoking increases the risk of dementia by 30-50%.
In contrast, supportive relationships halve our risk of developing dementia, and improve every aspect of our physical and mental health.
Even more importantly, relationships are what give our lives the greatest sense of meaning, purpose and joy. Good relationships are our greatest source of uplifting emotions. There is no greater human need than being of value to our fellow human. And supportive relationships are the biggest reason I’ve made it this far through the Pekoe Trail. Daily messages from friends that are vicariously trekking the Pekoe Trail with me — their encouraging words, reminding me that it’s worth the screaming muscles and peeling feet — seriously kept me going. Supportive relationships keep us all going.
Click here to read more about the healing power of connection, contribution and friendship.
To learn more about the inspiring work of Dementia Adventure, click here.
Or to make a donation, click here.
This is a photo from Stage 10 (of 22 stages) of the 300+km Pekoe Trail.
For more photos of my time in Sri Lanka, click here.
If you’d like to trek the Pekoe Trail yourself, please contact Deen at srilankatrekkingclub.com
I highly recommend you do it in the recommended 22 days, not the high speed 14 days that I did it in! You can also choose to only do one or a few of the stages to get a taste of Sri Lanka’s glorious tea country. Happy hiking – it’s a fabulous brain-boosting activity!
Please share this Health-e-Byte with anyone with an interest in brain health or a diagnosis of dementia.
