I moved to Oklahoma from West Texas to manage a retail property without knowing a soul. I met so many wonderful people through my job and built great relationships, but it took me over a year to make friends. I would get so excited when some of my favorite people would walk through the doors where I worked, but I didn’t feel we were close enough to call for a weekend hang-out, that first year was rough!

I’m talking a real friend that will do life with you. Someone who you can share details of your life, call over every little thing, and celebrates your peaks and valleys. A friend who will meet up for coffee early on a Saturday and will help with your garage sale. Your Right Tribe of like-minded friends that support you living your best life. It can be difficult meeting new people, let alone, making new friends. The Framingham Study tell us we are becoming increasingly lonelier and more isolated. This study shows that 20 years ago, we had 3 good friends. Today we have closer to 1.5 on average. How can we combat feelings of social isolation and loneliness? How can we potentially add years to our life?

 

The Japanese have led the way in this field for many years. At birth, Japanese children are put into a group called, a moai. Roughly translated, the word 'moai' means, “coming together for a common purpose.” Five to eight people are brought together at birth to support each other through all of the ups and downs life throws at you. A moai is a great avenue for creating connectivity and life-long bonds.

 

In Blue Zones Project Communities across the North America, moais are formed when people with a common goal or interest are formed into groups. Mary Jane Noss, a moai participant from Shawnee, Oklahoma has a story to tell. Her husband was ill for about 4 years and Mary Jane became his caretaker. Every day, she shuttled him to important appointments, prepared every meal, and overall took good care of her husband. This job was very important to her and became her life. During her time of caring for him and his needs, she became socially isolated. She said, “It’s amazing during 4 years, you can really lose track of your friends.” After he passed away, Mary Jane saw a newspaper event advertisement for a Moai Launch- an intentional place to connect with people of the same goals.  She shared the idea of going out to meet people with her daughter, and was encouraged to, “Get out, get active again.”  She did attend the event and became a member of Jim’s Girls Walking Moai, they have now been walking in the mall for 2 years!

 

Through walking together and getting to know one another, Mary Jane made friends with Jeri McEntire and even invited Jeri to join her on a family cruise. After joining Jim’s Girls, she also joined a Restaurant Approval Moai that has been meeting at Blue Zones Project Approved Restaurants once per week every week to enjoy plant-slant meals in Shawnee for over one year!

 

With her new, like-minded friends, she feels encouraged to get out, get moving, and eat a plant-slant diet. Mary Jane said, “It’s been a wonderful experience, got me out and walking. It’s one of the best things that’s happened to me."

 

Jim's Girls Moai

 

With our goal of connecting people, and helping individuals identify their Right Tribe, Blue Zones Project is working to help people in Shawnee, and across North America, live longer, better lives!