Ready to Become Zestie?
You’re never too old to age successfully. You’re never too young to start thinking about how.
Becoming Zestie is your research-backed, no-nonsense guide to living with more joy, meaning, and resilience — coming soon.
This isn’t a self-help book. It’s a wakeup call.
After four decades as a research scientist, Dr. Rachel Pruchno discovered something powerful. Aging successfully doesn’t depend on wealth, good genes, or miracle supplements. It is a way of thinking, doing, and connecting, behaviors that can be learned – at any age. My research identified nine behaviors that anyone can learn regardless of their circumstances. These behaviors are at the heart of Becoming Zestie: a bold new book for people who are tired of gimmicks and ready to rethink what aging successfully can actually look like.
What Is a Zestie?
A Zestie is someone who ages with enthusiasm, passion, and spice. Zesties age successfully.
They aren’t afraid of getting older. They’re not buying into the doom and gloom. Zesties live with curiosity, gratitude, and purpose. They roll with the punches, find joy in the moment, and stay connected to what matters. They’re not rare. They’ve just learned how to live differently.
Becoming Zestie will show you how.
Where does this come from?
ORANJ BOWL — Ongoing Research on Aging in New Jersey: Bettering Opportunities for Wellness in Life — was a 15-year longitudinal project led by Dr. Rachel Pruchno. It was a series of research studies, some funded by the NIH, others by private foundations. Her team followed nearly 6,000 randomly selected adults across New Jersey, checking in 7 times over the 15 years to track their lives and well-being.
The people who aged successfully weren’t the wealthiest or the healthiest. In fact, every single one of them had at least one chronic illness. But they shared something else. Nine behaviors that made them fulfilled, connected, and resilient.
Rachel called them Zesties. And this book is your invitation to become one.
Want the full breakdown?
What the Research Found: The 9 Pathways
People who consistently rated their aging experience a perfect ten shared these nine behaviors:
Roll with the punches.
Live with purpose.
Pass something on.
Embrace an attitude of gratitude.
Keep moving.
Cultivate close relationships
Savor the here and now.
Stay curious.
Build Community.
These aren’t personality traits. They’re behaviors. And anyone can learn them.
This isn’t just a book, it’s a movement.
For too long we’ve let Silicon Valley billionaires, out-of-touch celebrities, and snake oil peddling influencers define what aging successfully means. Becoming Zestie is here to flip the script and invite millions of people to age with purpose, joy, and power.