Over the past couple of years, I’ve been through some of the hardest times of my life—facing marriage struggles, breaking free from alcohol, navigating a serious health scare, and figuring out who I am when old patterns no longer worked for me. Somewhere along the way, I began to notice that the habits and mindsets that were helping me move forward weren’t random. They lined up with two powerful frameworks: the Blue Zones (research on the world’s longest-lived communities) and Richard Wiseman’s The Luck Factor (a book on why some people seem to create more luck in their lives).
I didn’t set out to follow either of these. But looking back, I can see how they’ve quietly shaped the way I live, and how they might help other men going through tough transitions as well.
Blue Zones in Real Life
Blue Zones research (and an amazing Netflix series) highlights common traits of people who live longer, healthier lives: natural movement, plant-heavy diets, purpose, community, and stress reduction. Without realizing it, I’ve started building my own version:
- Movement as lifestyle. I chase 10,000 steps daily and play tennis several times a week. It’s not just exercise—it’s a rhythm that clears my head and stabilizes my mood.
- Mostly whole foods. I rarely eat meat. My meals lean on simple, whole foods that fuel my body instead of weighing it down. If it has more than 5-7 ingredients, I usually try not to buy it at the grocery store.
- Connection. This one has been the hardest, but also the most important. The days I connect socially or share honest conversations are almost always my best days. Isolation, on the other hand, tanks me.
- Peace as purpose. The Blue Zones talk about having a sense of purpose—your “why.” Mine has become peace. After years of chaos, finding peace in my body, mind, and environment has become my north star.
The Luck Factor in Practice
Wiseman’s The Luck Factor (which I’ve listened to over 5 times) makes the case that luck isn’t random. Lucky people share four habits: they notice opportunities, listen to intuition, expect good fortune, and turn bad luck into good. When I line that up against my own life, it resonates deeply:
- Activity creates momentum. By getting out of the house, trying new things, or simply showing up at my country club or at the office more often, I open doors, create space for “luck” to find me. Sometimes it’s new friends or simply a better mood. Either way, I’m less stuck.
- Mindset matters. If I expect life to hand me nothing but setbacks, that’s what I see. When I decide to expect opportunities, they show up more often. Not always in the form I thought, but enough to remind me that action (and mindset) breeds luck.
- Turning pain into purpose. Divorce talks, health scares, and loneliness could have broken me. Instead, they’re teaching me resilience. Turning bad luck into good is what I’ve tried to do in these situations. E.g., the health scare = overcoming alcohol and facing my marriage trouble = greater peace.
Where They Meet
What ties these two frameworks together is simple: action and mindset. Blue Zones reminds me to design my environment for health and connection. The Luck Factor reminds me that mindset and small risks create opportunity. Together, they form a roadmap: live in a way that supports long-term health, and think in a way that keeps you open to growth.
For men going through hard times—whether it’s marriage stress, addiction recovery, or just feeling lost—these two ideas offer anchors. You don’t need to overhaul your whole life overnight. Start with daily walking, good food, meaningful conversations, and a belief that your choices create your luck.
My Takeaway
I don’t live in Okinawa or Sardinia (two of the Blue Zone locations). I’m not naturally “lucky” (in fact, I am naturally closed off). But by walking every day, eating in a way that feels clean, chasing peace, and expecting life to reward my actions, I’ve been able to pull myself forward—even on days I felt like giving up.
If you’re stuck, maybe this combination can help you too. Get active. Eat a cleaner meal. Speak a bold truth. Say yes to an opportunity, even if it scares you. The compound effect of those small choices could be your version of the Blue Zones—and your way of making your own luck.
Alcohol, Marriage, Personal Growth and More 
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