A few medical doctors are now studying people who were clinically dead, revived, and then had what is called an NDE—near-death experience, in which they might “see the light,” be greeted by their deceased loved ones, float out of their bodies, and later repeat conversations or occurrences that happened on the other side.

Bruce Greyson, M.D., professor emeritus of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, and Sam Parnia, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor at NYU’s Department of Medicine, are two doctors who stood out to me.

They both found that some of these NDEs were verifiable in that people come back with accurate information. For example, at times, the person who had the near-death experience saw a deceased loved one who had a message for a living person that made no sense to the NDE-er but that the living person understood.

There are also some similarities within reported NDEs: Many people are told by beings—either their deceased loved ones or higher beings like guides—that they have to return to the living because it is not their time. Some are given a choice to come back or not. The majority of them say that while the experience was transformative, it is impossible to really describe, like explaining sight to a blind person.

Most people who have NDEs also seem to return profoundly changed. They are much less interested in the material world and making money and frequently state the purpose of life is to help others and to love. They no longer fear death. This lasts for years after their NDE, according to follow-up research.

I think as technology improves and we are able to resuscitate more people who are further along in death, we will start to hear more about these fascinating experiences.

As the founder of mindbodygreen, well-being is more than just my priority—it’s an all-encompassing lifestyle. Now, at 46 years old and a father to two young girls (ages four and a half and two years old), I’ve really shifted my focus to longevity, or healthspan, at this stage in my life. I want to be able to run, play, hike, and goof around with my girls for many, many years to come—and feel great doing so. 

With that said, I’ve become enamored with all things performance when it comes to longevity. I’m lucky enough to work with top doctors and experts in functional medicine to optimize my routine, as well as test the very best performance-enhancing gadgets in the industry (micro-metrics was one of our 2021 wellness trends, after all). 

Here are some of my go-to products for dads looking to live a long, healthy life, so they can see their kids grow up to be the special humans that they are. Extra points if you are a #girldad like me!

Let’s face it—shopping for Dad is hard. The man already has practically everything he needs, and anything he does still need, he’d rather buy himself. That’s why he has you—to show him all the stuff he doesn’t think he needs (but actually does).  

So this Father’s Day, skip the ties (he has plenty), skip the new sweatpants (he’ll never give up that pair he’s been wearing since 1988), and skip the cologne (see previous, but probably closer to 1978). This year, get him something that will take his wellness routine to the next level. Here are some of our favorite gifts for any dad looking to get just a little healthier every day.