Here’s a round-up of highlights for February 2016:

First, let’s establish where the word, Moai® (pronounced “mo-eye”) came from and what it means. The word "Moai" comes from Okinawa, Japan, and translates to "meeting for a common purpose." In Okinawa, neighbors use Moais as a support system to help those in need. Based on this tradition, Moais provide social interaction and support that are just as important to a person’s overall well-being as the benefits of walking or eating healthy. Blue Zones Project® offers two different Moai programs: walking and potluck, where groups of 5-8 people walk or potluck over a period of 10 weeks.

Second, let’s define magic: Beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life.

Today was our first Moai of 2016 and it really was a magical experience. At the end of 2015, we decided to start each monthly Moai meet-up with a physical or healthy activity before we dig into a scrumptious potluck lunch. We started with a sweaty yoga class at 9:30am at The Yoga Project, and then met at Angela’s house for food and conversation. Our food theme for January was “wheat-free” because this month’s host recently discovered she had a strong intolerance to wheat.

Here’s a round-up of highlights for January 2016:

What’s your reason to get out of bed every morning? Studies show that people with a clear goal in life, or something to wake up for every morning, live longer and stay mentally sharper than those who don’t. Your sense of purpose can come from something as simple as watching your children or grandchildren grow up, being engaged in a job or a hobby that gives you a sense of fulfillment, or learning something new. Ready to start fulfilling your life purpose? Sign up to attend a free Purpose Workshop.

When we use our time – and our passions and talents – on things that are truly important to us, we have found purpose. Ready to start fulfilling your life purpose? Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Attend a Purpose Workshop. Find a free Purpose Workshop in your area.
• Gifts + Passion + Environment = Purpose. If you are using your gifts to do something that you feel passionate about in an environment that is a good fit for you, you are living your purpose.
• Create a personal mission statement. Assess where you are and where you want to be and keep a journal to jot down your thoughts along the way.
• Focus on your strengths. Using your talents and strengths will make you feel happy and help you feel valuable to yourself and others. 
• Listen to your heart. If you hate something – stop doing it. Get educated, get creative and start doing what you love. Life is too short to be miserable. What do you love to do?
• Learn something new. A new activity can give you purpose too. Try something that will “exercise” your brain – like learning a musical instrument or a new language.
  

At Blue Zones Project^® and our parent company, Healthways, we'd like to think of our office as a “living lab,” meaning we try our best to practice what we preach by making healthy choices whenever possible through implementing the Blue Zones^® Power 9 principles into our lives. Each week, we'll introduce you to a different colleague of our Right Tribe, and share his or her favorite Power 9.

At Blue Zones Project^® and our parent company, Healthways, we'd like to think of our office as a “living lab,” meaning we try our best to practice what we preach by making healthy choices whenever possible through implementing the Blue Zones^® Power 9 principles into our lives. Each week, we'll introduce you to a different colleague of our Right Tribe, and share his or her favorite Power 9.

Here’s a round-up of highlights for December 2015:

Top 5 Ways to Make Your Family a Priority

Blue Zones^® researchers discovered that the healthiest, happiest centenarians in the world tend to build their lives around their families. Taking care of family is their main purpose in life, and this lifelong devotion pays off. In Sardinia and other Blue Zones areas, younger generations return the love and care they received from their parents and grandparents. No matter how you choose to do it, investing time with family can help add up to 6 years to your life.

Invest time and energy in your children, your spouse, and your parents. Here are some easy ways to help you build stronger bonds with your family:

1. Set aside time for each other every day. Play with your children, spend quality time with your spouse, and honor your parents. Eating family dinners together is a great chance to turn off the TV and chat about everyone’s day over a healthy meal.

2. Get moving together. After dinner, take a walk or go on a bike ride. If you have younger children, visit your local park or playground. Or play a game of tag, Frisbee, or hide-and-seek in your own backyard.

3. Share your family history. Children love stories about when their parents were young, like the time Mommy got stuck in the apple tree, or when Daddy woke up at 3:00 a.m. because he couldn’t wait for Christmas morning. Display pictures of family members on a wall in your home so the kids are familiar with extended family members, too.

4. Involve grandparents in your lives. Grandparents can offer love, support, wisdom, and motivation to help their younger family members succeed. This adds up to healthier, better-adjusted families who live longer.

5. Create family traditions and memories. Holidays offer a great opportunity to create memorable family traditions that bring your family closer together. When it’s not possible to be together during the holidays, connect by phone.

We continue to be inspired by the culinary arts students in Fort Worth. Last month's Fit Foods Face-Off: Healthy Tailgate Competition was a huge success, and this November, the incredibly talented culinary arts students from Polytechnic High School hosted a Blue Zones^® inspired Thanksgiving dinner. Each dish was creative, delicious, and met the Blue Zones healthy dish guidelines. Here are a couple of our favorites from the meal. We hope you enjoy these recipes and share them with your families this holiday season. 

Meet one of our volunteer chefs, Chef Juan Rodriguez of Magdalena's Cocina Mexicana Local.