The Next Big Idea Daily Anti-Aging Is Overrated. Joy Is the Real Fountain of Youth.
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Aug 14, 2025 Dr. Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist and author of 'JoySpan,' challenges conventional views on aging by introducing the concept of joyspan—focused on thriving in the later years of life. She emphasizes that aging is not merely about lifespan or healthspan, but about cultivating joy and engagement. Through practical insights, she offers four key practices to enhance well-being, advocating for a growth mindset. By sharing transformative stories, she highlights how perspective can shape our experiences and happiness as we age.
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Joyspan Completes Longevity
- Longevity and healthspan matter but are incomplete goals for aging well.
- Kerry Burnight argues that joyful longevity — joyspan — is the missing focus for thriving in later life.
Joy Is Different From Happiness
- Joyspan is defined as well-being and satisfaction across a long life, distinct from fleeting happiness.
- Kerry Burnight emphasizes joy can persist even amid adversity and isn't just temporary pleasure.
The Four Core Elements
- Research across decades clusters predictors of thriving into four core elements: grow, connect, adapt, give.
- These four verbs summarize behaviors common to people with long joyspans.
