Many people — those who study aging and laymen alike — are saying that having a purpose in life contributes to longevity. Whether it’s serving others or working toward a personal goal, the philosophy is the same: We need a reason to get out of bed in the morning. M talked to several individuals who are not necessarily old, but all have one thing in common — they perform selfless acts on a daily basis. As a result of this, they are happy and content with their lives and they don’t bother counting the candles on their birthday cake. Age is irrelevant — it’s how you live your life that counts.

Nancy Becher of Brookfield watched her mother’s decline from Alzheimer’s a decade ago. But she was no passive observer — she and her husband, Miloudi Elafess, visited her daily at Luther Manor and began volunteering there in various capacities.

The day after her mother’s funeral, Becher and her husband were back volunteering at Luther Manor. "We couldn’t let them down," she explains.

The couple helps with myriad parties and outings for the residents, and Becher, now 69, puts her computer talents to use keeping track of it all. Often, they’re at Luther Manor five days a week; earlier this year they were honored for each giving 5,000 hours of service.

"We put Luther Manor first in our lives," says Becher. "I feel like I’m doing a good job and that they like us. I always say, ‘I’m here to serve. I’m here for you.’ The interaction is just marvelous."

Both Becher and Elafess, 57, enjoy good health. Elafess grew up in Morocco, where, he says, longevity is enhanced by strong family and faith. His mother is 90.

"In Morocco, we don’t have nursing homes; the family takes care of you," he notes. "We learned to respect our elders and listen to them."

Plenty of people listen to 74-year-old Stan Smith of Mequon. He chairs the committee that is developing the Mequon-Thiensville Town Center and is a longtime, highly involved Rotarian.

Smith retired in 1992 from Ameritech, then took on consulting work for several years. After that, he held executive director positions with the Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce’s Community Fun Events department and Gathering on the Green.

"My parents lived into their 80s, but I don’t remember them being as active as I am," he says. "I feel about 50. This generation and the next will feel even younger. A person 74, big deal."

According to Smith, the rewarding feeling that comes from giving back to the community and the mental focus it requires are a boost to his health.

Smith says one important factor in maintaining a busy volunteer schedule is having a supportive spouse. Smith’s wife, Babs, is active at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Mequon and with a hospital auxiliary group.

Some days "are what we call a ‘7 and 7 day’ — meetings at 7 in the morning and 7 at night," he explains.

If days packed with volunteering and meetings sounds like a marathon, well, meet John Katzka. He knows all about going the distance.

Katzka, 69, completed his 16th, 26.2-mile run, finishing second in his age group at the recent Fox Cities Marathon. He usually runs a marathon every other year, but already is planning on one for 2010, when he will move up to the next division. "It’s like my Everest," he explains.

Katzka and his wife, Mary Lee, have lived in Cedarburg since 1999. The couple was looking for just the right place to put down roots after decades of living on three continents due to Katzka’s job in the diplomatic corps.

"I’ve never run across a community like Cedarburg where people are so willing to give of themselves," he says.

Katzka holds officer positions with the Cedarburg Cultural Center, Festivals of Cedarburg and Friends of the Cedarburg Public Library. He also is a member of the town of Cedarburg’s parks committee, the American Legion and on the steering committee of the Futurist Society at UW-Milwaukee. (Mary Lee is treasurer of the Cedarburg Woman’s Club and on the library friends board.)

"I like organization and policy," he explains. "I like forming the direction of organizations vs. just being a foot soldier."

When he was working in other countries, Katzka routinely inflated his age by five years to gain the respect of those nations’ officials and citizens. Now, as he thinks about aging, he wonders what the limits are.

"I have a range of friends from their 30s to their 70s. My friends in their 70s, some of them are old and some of them aren’t," he says.

"We’re reaching a point where the human body can survive significantly longer, but there are questions about where and how we will work."

Pondering a thought-provoking question — or, really, anything that stimulates the brain — contributes to longevity, according to Dr. Tim C. Levenhagen, medical director of adult services and older adult services at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc.

"If you’re more active, challenging yourself to do more, certainly without question you establish more connections in the brain," he explains. "This strengthens the brain and lessens the impact of factors that lead to dementia."

While new activities are important, so are routines, Levenhagen says. He urges older adults to always get up each morning and get showered, shaved and dressed. "That tells the brain, ‘I’m still alive, I’m still kicking,’" he explains. Besides, when a person is groomed and dressed, he or she can accept a last-minute invitation to join a friend for lunch or to play cards, he points out.

Levenhagen looks to several studies of older adults suggesting that having a purpose in life is an important contributor to health. One study even connected volunteerism to longevity.

"That sense of purpose is an integral part of mental health. It goes all the way back to Freud," notes Levenhagen. M