Friends " meet for a common purpose in small neighborhoods across Okinawa in "meet for a common purpose." These meetings are sometimes daily and sometimes a few days a week. They use this time to gossip, experience life, and share advice. They call these groups their Moai, a term that originated hundreds of years ago for a village's financial support system.
Originally, Moais were formed to pool the resources of an entire village for projects or public works. Today, the idea has expanded to become a social support network, a cultural tradition for built-in companionship. Traditionally, groups of about five young children were paired together and committed for life. They regularly met with their Moai for work, play, and pool resources as their second family. Some Moais have lasted over 90 years.
Research shows that friends can affect your health even more than family. People with the most friends tend to outlive the fewest by 22 percent. Keep in mind this means real friends. The authors point out that Facebook friends and Twitter followers do not count.
The key isn't to try to have several friends. Superficial and distant relationships will only lead to feelings of insecurity and loneliness. These emotions increase your risk of illness and death, as much as obesity, alcoholism, and smoking. The key is to have three or four good friends that care for you the same way you care for them. The easiest way to develop close friendships is to think about what you can do to help the people closest to you be happier.
