Small and steady truths
At first glance, you find yourself asking if it’s true. 80-years-old, really? It can’t be. They both look so refreshed.
“Our goal, Elena, is to be as positive as possible because life warrants it.”
Both Dr. and Mrs. Pasquale and Graziella Meloni of Sardegna are in their 8th decade and you'd never know it.
Their day starts with a wholesome breakfast, followed by a few hours enjoying their respective passions. Dr. Meloni still practices medicine, offering compassionate care to those who visit his office. Mrs. Meloni cherishes time with her grandkids, encouraging them to stay curious, kind and hopeful. Lunch is had together, where light fish is the regular choice. Exercise follows later in the day and the night is capped with a small dinner, consisting of local Sardinian staples, like grilled artichokes, potato filled raviolis, baked eel, or roasted goat.
“We indulge from time to time,” explains Mrs. Meloni with a grin one evening this past June. “Although our diet is lean, it’s important to maintain a well-rounded lifestyle. A glass of wine and fresh goat cheese won’t hurt you.”
The Meloni health plan extends beyond the physical – nurturing their emotional well-being is paramount to how they feel overall and it goes without saying that they maintain a fair balance when it comes to taking care of their physical and mental health.
“Our goal, Elena, is to be as positive as possible because life warrants it. Knowing we have more time with each other and our families brings us great joy. Without a sense of hope, I don’t know how we’d make it through each day,” Dr. Meloni shared as we enjoyed a night out in Villasimus, Sardegna, earlier this summer.
“Life brings us so many different things, and it’s important to maintain an outlook that keeps you looking and moving forward with a sense of excitement, purpose and passion. The idea is to keep yourself inspired and to give others the courage to stay positive too,” added Mrs. Meloni.
I first met the couple in 2017 while on holidays with my husband. It was a special trip to Sardegna – we renewed our wedding vows to mark five years of marriage. On that vow renewal day the couple sat behind us during the church ceremony. When mass ended, they ran up to us to offer their congratulations and invited us to their home for a celebratory refreshment.
Upon our return to Canada, we stayed in touch via email. Returning to Sardegna this past June, we invited them to join us for dinner. Although a year had passed, they hadn’t changed at all. In fact, the sparkle in their eyes seemed brighter.
Walking along the private beach in Cala Caterina, Sardegna, directly below the Meloni beach home with Dr. and Mrs. Meloni and my husband, Sam. June 7, 2018. Copyright Elena Iacono
Popular research on positivity suggests a correlation between our outlooks and our physical health. Our thoughts and feelings are “literally carried throughout our bodies by the nervous, immune and cardiovascular systems and leave their own biological footprints.”*
When we’re nervous, anxious or in a pessimistic state, those related feelings and thoughts affect our blood pressure, heart rate and release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which ultimately tax our organs.
Meanwhile, a surge in positive emotions – happiness, joy, hope, excitement, clarity of thought – improves the functioning of our bodies as corresponding hormones nurture our organs, most profoundly our brain.
“Being in the best emotional state is as important to being in top shape physically. A few years ago, I underwent a major medical event and I could have given up,” said Dr. Meloni. “Fortunately, I had the strength of my wife and family behind me, encouraging me as I recovered. But I also think I was able to get back on my feet because of the attitude I chose to adopt. Getting better was up to me and me alone.”
The doctor advises that the individual who is looking to boost their emotional well-being focus on small and steady truths.
A gift from Mrs. Meloni, a “Su Tuko” charm bracelet, representing hope for the future. July 23, 2018. Copyright Elena Iacono
Before we said goodbye, Mrs. Meloni gifted me a white gold bracelet with black onyx charms. Called “Su Toku” in Sardinian, meaning “go forward with hope”, the charms symbolize a more hopeful future. She who dons it, legend has it, is promised positivity throughout life.
“Wear the bracelet in honour of what’s to come – the best of life is possible if you can imagine it. Mindset is everything,” Mrs. Meloni shared as she helped me figure out the bracelet’s clamp.
I wear the bracelet every day – it’s truly a token of what my dear Italian friends represent. But all tokens aside, it’s their spirit that I hold close to my heart and with that I'm inspired to keep looking up.
Header image shows Dr., Mrs. Meloni and me on my vow renewal day, Sardegna, June 11, 2017. Copyright Elena Iacono
*Hilary Tindle, How Positive Outlook Can Transform our Health and Aging
This is the third edition of One with the Blue – the aim is to share examples on how emotional well-being is supported in a region where people are living happy and healthy lives.
