The Sedona Public Library will be starting off the New Year with “The Longevity Series: TED Talk Films at the Library,” a four-week film discussion period on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. that will run from Jan. 10 through 31.
“Getting together is one of the biggest things that helps people live longer, and so that’s why coming together and even talking about this actually helps improve your lifespan,” library assistant Patty Kelly said. “That’s a big reason to come to listen, and join in and share [and] break bread together.”
“This four-week film series will inspire and educate our community about what it takes to live a long, fulfilling life,” the library’s website stated. “Enjoy a series of TED Talk films that explore the secrets to healthy longevity. These TED Talk mini-lectures by experts and novices will explore a variety of subjects relating to aging well and living a vibrant life. We’ll also cover the infamous ‘Blue Zones’ and schedule time for group discussion following each short film. On the final day of this series, join outdoor adventure guide and longevity expert Gene Kelly as he shares his knowledge and answers questions.”
“Blue zones” are areas that are supposed to have the highest concentrations of centenarians,individuals who live to be 100 or more. “All the TED talks are on the topics of longevity and living a good long life,” Patty Kelly said. “The reason why it was developed is because Netflix came out with the Blue Zone series on how to live to be 100 by Dan Buettner … and we couldn’t get permission to show it. So instead, I researched and found TED talks by people that are talking on the subject, and put together that series.” Breakout discussion sessions with snacks will follow each showing.
Gene Kelly, the founder of the Sedona Outdoor School, who is also a retired fireman with 40 years of experience in the fitness industry, will discuss the “blue zones” on Wednesday, Jan. 31, and take questions.
“I’ve done quite a few seminars on aging and I have a PowerPoint that goes through some of the basic specifics and I call it ‘The 10 Commitments: The Pillars of Health,’” Gene Kelly said. “I’m going to run through all the capital ideas of what has been found to improve the chances of longevity and reduce the risk of chronic disease.” He pointed out that one of the biggest common denominators among healthy aging individuals is exercise.
“The big ones are stress management and of course diet, and how you determine what type of diet is best for you individually,” Gene Kelly said. “Then also the way you fit into your social environment, what kind of a social environment is healthy. Those are the main points that will be covered.”
“We’re going to look at diet … social aspects,” Patty Kelly said. “Loneliness is a major epidemic, and so more community and more social time benefits everyone. Purpose, giving meaning to your life. We’re going to touch a little bit on alcohol … and natural movements. So not like, ‘Let’s join the gym or run a marathon.’ It’s the things that you can do every day that implement natural movement into your day.”
“[People] should come on out, because it’s the perfect time of year to set new goals to reflect on the last year and maybe things that have improved your life … and changes that you want to make,” Patty Kelly said. “Health is everything, health is wealth. This particular series simplifies things. There’s no specific diets, in the sense of fad diets. It’s all about the simple things you do every day, that add up over the year. When you start a new year, it’s of great benefit to look at what those things are that you can implement into your daily life.”
The full schedule for the talks will be:
• Wednesday, Jan. 10: Jane Fonda’s “Life’s Third Act,” Laura Carstensen’s “Older People are Happier” and Isabel Allende’s “How to Live Passionately: No Matter Your Age.”
• Wednesday, Jan. 17: Carl Honore’s “Why We Should Embrace Aging as an Adventure,” Ashton Applewhite’s “Let’s End Ageism” and Susan Pinker’s “The Secret to Living Longer May be Your Social Life.”
• Wednesday, Jan. 24: Robert Waldinger’s “The Secret to a Happy Life: Lessons from Eight Decades of Research.”
• Wednesday, Jan. 31: Lisa Genova’s “What You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s” and Dan Buettner’s “How to Live to 100+,” followed by Gene Kelly’s presentation
