Being the former English teach that I am, I never fail to be a sucker for word origin study, better known as “etymology”–not to be confused with “entomology.” This is just a brief cautionary anecdote learned the hard way by my freshman college roommate who wound up studying insects instead of the history of words. Big difference. Huge.

Anywho, imagine my elation at discovering the root for “sardonic” (Mr. Webster defines this as “disdainfully or skeptically humorous”–its synonym is “sarcastic“) comes from the Greek word sardonios, and guess what’s been hanging out with Greece at that little Mediterranean spot? You guessed it: Italy!

Which brings us to the first “longevity hot spot” in Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones–Sardinia, Italy, the island where women and their baby daddies are living to 100! I’m currently reading The Blue Zones, trying to learn some life-changing (?) lessons and secrets to longevity. The book takes a look at four places in the world where peeps are living the longest.

After centuries of having to defend their turf from outsiders, the Sardinians have grown inward, relying mostly on family to meet their needs. These tough-as-they-come workers are gruff and irreverent toward those whom they do not yet trust. Of this group of men, Buettner says, “Sardinian men seem to possess a temperament that enables them to shed stress. They are at once grumpy and likable, and often joke at the expense of one another.”

So does this give us a free pass to be sarcastic with one another (by the way, the root of “sarcastic” means “to tear flesh”)? Or can we learn from the Sardinians to not take ourselves too seriously–just to shake off the stresses of the day?

The answer, I believe lies in “the sardonic circle of trust,” which is built on the bedrock of a close-knit family and community. Here, in Sardinia, family is the reason these people get up in the morning. They are fans of their family, and the older you are, the more fans you have. With age comes wisdom and value, and perhaps, the right to be sarcastic.

The phrase, “no one knows you like your family” holds true here. Once you’re on the inside of the “circle of trust,” you’re in for good. No nursing homes for you (one Sardinian woman calls them a “disgrace” in the book). And your family’s not the only one that thinks this way; the crews down the rocky-terrained un-paved “street” are living the same way, too. With that trust and “Hotel California” mindset, comes the freedom to joke, mock, playfully ridicule, and encourage one another back to what’s real and what’s really important.

That and trekking up and down incredibly hilly terrain daily. Here’s a snap shot of other things that may be allowing the traditional
Sardinian crew to live upwards of a vital 100:

1. Work your fanny, yo: Walking five or miles a day is the cardiovascular workout you need without the high-impact of running.

2. Be a lean, mean, plant-based-diet machine: Sardinians don’t have the funds to be extravagant, so meat is a Sunday dinner kinda thing. For the most part, they are eating homegrown vegetables, fruits, whole-grain breads, beans (fava, natch), pecorino cheese (the sheep’s milk cousin to parmesan), and mastic oil.

3. Kick the cow to the curb: No need to call PETA! The Sardinian peeps drink goat milk as opposed to the cow variety. The difference may be preventing Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

4. “Red, Red Wi-i-i-ine…”: Sardinian red wine, or Cannonau wine, has twice and thrice as much power to unclog arteries due to the extra-dark color of the grape skins. Most drink wine in moderation, which may be “taking the edge off” should stress rear its ugly head.

5. The social network: Put your family first and celebrate the eldest among you and what they have to offer. Laugh with your friends daily. Make it a priority, and we all might be laughing for quite some time to come.