Keith Richards: A Great Example of the Work and Longevity Connection

Recently I watched a TV special on the Rolling Stones. The last hour of the program was focused on the life of guitarist Keith Richards who still plays like a 40 year old although he will be turning 80 later this year.

By all accounts, Keith should be dead by now.

I think he knows it when he smiles while answering questions about his former rock and roll lifestyle.

Keith didn’t adhere to the recommended healthy-living guidelines we live by today.

For years he consumed a bottle of Jack Daniels a day versus the recommended current guideline of two drinks a week.

He also smoked heavily for 50+ years and it’s estimated that he lite up at minimum 500,000 cigarettes during that time (he just quit smoking about 3 years ago).

Keith has never followed the healthy Mediterranean diet of olive oil, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and mostly fish, legumes and nuts for protein. In fact his favorite meal is bangers and mash (sausages and mash potatoes) and he also enjoys burgers, steak, and fish.

Additionally, until fairly recently Keith wasn’t worried about staying in shape and didn’t exercise at all. So, the million dollar question is;

How does someone like Keith Richards survive decades of hard drug use, drink and smoke heavily, not exercise, eat the wrong foods and still be alive and thriving?

I thought long and hard on this and I believe the answer is because he found passion and purpose in the work he does.

Unlike many of us Keith found his “thing”. The reason why he was put on this planet and at age 80 his purpose-driven life - doing work that he loves to do is what keeps him alive and healthy.

Keith is happiest when he is playing his guitar - it’s what he loves to do.

Being a member of the Rolling Stones gives Keith a sense of identity, it keeps him socially engaged and he benefits from the companionship and camaraderie with his other band mates.

When playing in front of an audience you can see Keith come alive. It puts him in a state of flow where he is swallowed up by the passion for what he is doing. It allows him to express himself giving him a core sense of who he is along with a strong sense of connection to others.

Keith is living proof that health and longevity is not just about healthy food choices or how much we exercise.

Keith’s purpose made his life worth living and playing in the band in front of audiences likely protected him from all those poor lifestyle choices he made over the past 50+ years.

People with purpose are both psychologically and physiologically healthier and science is starting to recognize this.

Studies have proven that people who have a strong purpose in life benefit from improved well-being, including better sleep; fewer strokes and heart attacks; and a lower risk of dementia, disability, and premature death.

Keith was lucky – he found purpose early in life but many of us are not that fortunate.

We are forced to defer finding our purpose until our other important needs are met. Raising the kids, achieving financial security, saving up for retirement are a priority. But once that is behind us we have a chance to find our purpose and become the person we were always meant to be.

Finding fulfillment and meaning through some purposeful activity will allow you to enjoy old age instead of growing smaller and spending your time complaining to others about your ailments or being bored.

Purpose is something that we need until our last breath. And Keith Richards continues to show up and show us how this is possible.

Interested in learning more about Keith Richards? Here is a recent interview;