October 2019

What it means to be a Blue Zones Community

Blue Zones are specific areas, across the world, where the residents enjoy the happiest, healthiest, and longest lives. Their immediate environment supports their lifestyle choices and well-being.

At its most basic, the Blue Zones Project is a community well-being improvement initiative designed to change the way people experience the world around them. Because healthier environments naturally nudge people toward healthier choices, the Blue Zones Project focuses on influencing the area close to home in which people spend 90 percent of their lives. That area and that environment dictates how easy it is to make healthy choices, or how difficult. By improving where we live, work, learn, and play, we make it easier to get up and move, eat healthy, make new friends, find a reason for being — and live longer, better.

The Blue Zones Project brings the entire community together; local residents, worksites, human services & non-profit organizations, your Community Foundation, healthcare professionals, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and local government; to inspire this community movement that has the power to improve the quality of life for everyone. Blue Zones uses scientifically proven lessons of longevity, health, and happiness to boost the well-being of an entire community.

Once the entire community is brought together, Phase 2 or “Activate” begins by optimizing local food policy and environmental policy initiatives, with the goal to create environments where healthy choices are easier and accessible to everyone. As a result, people can live longer and better, and communities can lower healthcare costs, lower their obesity rates, improve productivity, and boost their city’s national recognition as a great place to live, work, and play.

In 2018, Wexford County placed 67 out of 83 counties in Michigan County Health Rankings. Our ranking needs serious improvement to ensure the health and future of our community. The Blue Zones Project has shown it can create this improvement through a cultural change across the community, and by the implementation of policies that drive lasting and sustainable changes that will benefit the entire community and future generations to follow.

We invite you to join us to hear the Blue Zones National Spokesperson, Tony Buettner, and learn more about this exiting initiative. Tony is a former expedition member, explorer, and entrepreneur, and consult for the United States Surgeon General. In just one talk, Tony will share with his audience the tools to help them live a longer and more fulfilled life using nine common diet and lifestyle habits. (Move Naturally, Purpose, Plant Slant, 80% Rule, Wine@Five, Down Shift, Family First, Right Tribe, Belong).

Expected outcomes of a Blue Zones Project are to create a better place to live, work and play, improved quality of life for all of us, as well as making Wexford County a desirable place to retain and attract business. You can learn more at www.Bluezone.com.

You are invited to learn more about Blue Zones, Monday, November 25, 2019 from 6 – 8 pm at the Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, Lake Superior Room, where Tony Buettner, Blue Zones National Spokesperson will be presenting.

Please reserve at: Pat@HelpOthersNow.org or call 231-775-3753