Cuban Secrets to Living a Long Happy Life

Interesting conversations are sparked over a cup of Cuban coffee. I learned this first hand during my visit to Miami this summer.  The first thing we did every morning was to sit down together and enjoy our cafecitos.

One morning, our topic of discussion revolved around the oldest generation of Cubans that are in my family.  All of them spent the majority of their lives in Cuba, and came to America while they were in their adult years.  An interesting fact that I noticed was that majority of these Cubans in my family have lived a pretty long life.  When I say long life, I mean way above the average American.  In fact, making it to your 90’s seems almost impossible with all the health issues in today’s world. It seems like the majority of the people who live that long get to that age by complete luck. How are all these crazy Cubans living so long?? Living on an island means that they only ate unprocessed and local food, however that is not the only factor that could possibly contribute to this strange phenomenon.

After having this conversation, I concluded 5 findings that I believe contribute to their long life spans. This is purely  first hand opinions of fellow Cubans, but these 5 characteristics were present in everyone of these 90+ year old Cubans.

1.Strong Family Relationship:

This is by far the most important factor. Cubans value family as their number one priority. They take care of each other, provide support, and will do anything for someone in need. All of my relatives in Florida treat me as if I were their daughter or sister, even if I’m really their second or third cousin. They love each other unconditionally, which is a beautiful thing to see. At the end of the day, no matter what’s going on in life or how old they are, the Cubans will always be there for one another.

I also noticed that all the family members live close by to each other. This way they are able to do weekly dinners, have family celebrations, and even vacation together. This allows them to keep a close eye on the older generation and always have family interaction.  Many of the grandparents end up living with their children when they can no longer live on their own.

2.“Debating”:

If you have any Cuban friends or are a Cuban yourself, you should know exactly what I’m talking about. If you have ever heard of a “Cuban temper” you could say it is a very real thing. This is not a bad thing at all, but Cubans tend to be very expressive. If you see two Cubans in a heated conversation, nine times out of ten they will say they are just having a discussion. My cousins from Florida say that they love to “debate” or challenge each other. It keeps them on their toes and challenges the way they think. All ages contribute in these friendly debates. Whether it’s the 5^th grader or the 90 year old, if they hear something they don’t believe in, they will let you know. It doesn’t matter if they are right or wrong, they are going to defend their argument.

3. Passionate About Life:

Cubans seem to be passionate about everything in life. This goes perfectly with the Debating point. I’d say this fits in with my personality more than any of these points. If a Cuban wants to do something, they will make it happen no matter what. They also seem to have a love for life in general which I think is key to overall happiness. They recognize the important things in life. Whether it’s religion, family, or overall well being, their priorities are very well known.

A Cuban can find the smallest of joys in life. These joys can be from cooking, to family outings, or even the afternoon café con leche. I also noticed that they have so much passion for the people that they love. Whether it’s another family member or their significant other, you can see that they are genuinely happy to be with one another.

4. Identified Values:

Cubans, from the day they are born, are wired to have strong values. The strongest value that is apparent in all of them is their faith in God. Having a strong value in religion gives them a purpose in life and seems to be apparent in all aspects of life.

Even outside of religion, they value education. Cubans seem to have a thirst for knowledge. Majority of my relatives have graduated college in very respectable fields. Having that education as a solid foundation has made them hard working, determined, and focused with everything they do.

Having identified values will guide you to live a happy and healthy life filled with purpose. Cubans show determination and perseverance in everything they value.

5. Cuban Coffee:

I know this sounds crazy, but Cuban coffee is a reoccurring factor in every single Cuban. They start their day with an espresso, might have a few throughout the day, and some can even drink one before going to bed. Cubans drink Cuban coffee with any occasion. The combination of antioxidants and caffeine just might be one of the best-kept secrets to a long and happy life.

These five characteristics are points that I plan to implement in my every day life. I even brought home a Cuban coffee maker to take to school with me! This trip has reminded me to do what makes me happy, never take anything too seriously, and to cherish the wonderful family I have been blessed with.