07/30/2025
My passion for healthy living really took root during the year I lived in Spain. I was deeply inspired by the older adults there—vibrant, active, and thriving well into their 70s and 80s. Their lifestyle was unlike anything I’d seen before: fresh, seasonal food, plenty of walking, and strong community ties. That experience stayed with me and ultimately became one of the driving reasons I chose to become a fitness instructor and nutrition specialist.
Lately, I’ve been completely fascinated by this book: The Blue Zones: Secrets for Living Longer.
For me, it’s not just about trying to live longer—because I believe our time on this earth is ultimately in God’s hands. But I do believe our environments and communities should be designed to support longevity. And for those who are blessed with long life, wouldn't we all prefer to spend those years healthy, mobile, and active?
This book is such an eye-opening read. It didn’t surprise me that it highlights just how much America seems to get wrong when it comes to health—despite having nearly every resource at our fingertips. Our fast-paced, disconnected, convenience-driven culture is slowly draining the life out of us—especially when paired with a reactive, expensive healthcare system that focuses more on cures than prevention.
In contrast, the secret behind the long, healthy lives of people in Blue Zone communities isn’t about motivation or willpower—it’s about environment. There are no fast-food chains. People grow their own food. They don’t retire even in their 90s. Meals are shared with loved ones. Life is simpler—and better.
As someone certified in Behavior Change, I hear it all the time: “I just don’t have the willpower.” But in Blue Zones, willpower isn’t required. Health is baked into daily life. The environment supports well-being effortlessly.
And here’s what really stands out to me: These people aren’t on the latest diet, chugging protein shakes, lifting heavy at the gym, running ultra-marathons, or spending hundreds on supplements. Their “secret” is incredibly simple—natural daily movement, mostly plant-based meals, meaningful social connections, a sense of purpose, and rest.
Maybe it’s time we stop chasing health through extremes. The answer might be far simpler than we think.
