by Michael Lindsey
“If you want to be good to yourself, live your best life and be who you are authentically, then Blue Zones is a great path to follow. It's a broad approach to health that encompasses not only you, but those around you as well.”
A few years ago, Blue Zones Project ambassador and volunteer Arnette Travis was battling feelings of social disconnectedness, and a smoking addiction brought on by a solitary work environment and the untimely loss of loved ones. During this time of personal hardship, one powerful quote rang in her head: “If you don't know what your purpose is, give. Just start giving.”
And give she did. Not long after, the smoke began to clear, and she found herself surrounded by people who support her health goals, which Blue Zones Project calls a “Right Tribe.” We sat down with Arnette to hear her story and learn more about the profound effect Blue Zones Project is having on her life, including her plans to spread the message of health to her hometown of Lexington, Kentucky
Q: How did you hear about Beach Cities Health District (BCHD), and what prompted you to get involved?
A: “I knew that Beach Cities Health District was on the forefront of wellness, so I just signed up for their email list. When 2010 came around and Blue Zones Project started, I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this sounds so great!’ It actually uses empirical evidence that shows how practicing healthy habits lead to longevity, and just feeling better.”
Q: Where does your desire to volunteer come from?
A: “So I originally just volunteered for everything. I took a purpose workshop — that was really my intro to volunteering, and it couldn't have come at a better time in my life. I'm a positive person generally by nature, but I had just gone through a lot of unexpected loss in terms of family and friends. I also work from home, which means you're alone a lot of the time and you don't have any social interaction. I found myself just waiting for my husband, like: 'Come home, just come home!' But the volunteering started with trying to find my purpose. I knew that it had something to do with people, because that was the missing element in my life. I am that person that likes to be of help to others. I knew it kind of innately, but I never practiced it intentionally. Now, I make sure that every chance I get, I'm going to get involved.”
Q: Do you think forcing yourself to take every opportunity to get involved was the key to getting out of your funk and finding your purpose?
A: “Yeah! Because I met all kinds of people! I remember volunteering at the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair. There were people who already knew about Blue Zones Project, so you could engage in a conversation about how its beneficial, or how great it is — or how it's working for you, in your own life. It gave me more of an in-depth view of the project too, and how the Power 9 Principles are practiced in different ways.”
Q: I understand that BCHD and Blue Zones Project helped you cut a smoking habit. What helped you make this lifestyle change and what advice would you give to someone looking to take those steps?
A: “Mentally, I was adopting all of the Power 9, but then realized it doesn’t make sense to smoke; that's just a conflict that you can no longer ignore. It was August of 2010, and I just had that conversation with myself about being honest and true. I’d tell myself everyday: ‘You can do it’, and that's what I started doing. Every time I lit a cigarette, I'd tell myself: 'This is my last cigarette.' Every time I bought a pack, I'd tell myself: 'This is my last pack.' And in smoking, I'd say: 'Ugh, you see how that's nasty?’ So starting in early September, I really just kept repeating that to myself, and on November 16th I was working in Pasadena, and I went outside to smoke a cigarette. I looked in the pack and there were three left. I told myself this was my last pack. I said to myself: ‘You're going to smoke those three tonight. It's gonna be more than you normally do, but tomorrow you will not smoke again.’ And I didn’t."
Q: Besides quitting tobacco, how has taking the Blue Zones Pledge benefitted your health and well-being?
A: “It brought me a lot closer to my community, especially my church. In my effort to reach out and strengthen my faith ties, I do a Blue Zones dinner for the entire church every month. I have my Blue Zones recipes and most of what I make is vegetarian. They love the Ikarian Longevity Stew. There were a lot of people at my church who were ill and way overweight. And it's been a slow process, but people really enjoy it and they're giving positive feedback, which has been very gratifying to see.”
Q: Is it true that in addition to your church, you're trying to get your hometown of Lexington, KY Blue Zones approved?
A: “Yes! It’s my hometown, and I know there are really unhealthy habits everywhere. So I’ve been working on it since 2012. The majority of the work is identifying an administration or an agency that has the funding and willingness to bring it to the community.”
Q: What role do you think the success of Blue Zones Project in the Beach Cities has had in the spread of the project nationally?
A: “Well, we're the largest, first of all. The Surgeon General called us ‘a shining light in our country.’ I think we dispelled the notion that everyone here was already so healthy they couldn't become any healthier. I think it is a big deal because what we see is more community engagement. Blue Zones Project brought together different demographics of the community for that common purpose of health, whereas before it was more of an individual practice even at the gym. Blue Zones has really been a unifying force in the Beach Cities, and its quickly spreading throughout the U.S.”
Q: If you could live in any of the original Blue Zones, which would you choose and why?
A: “I'd have to say Sardinia, Italy. Definitely. Because I couldn't do the no wine thing, like they do in Loma Linda.”
Q: Any final words of advice, or anything you'd like to share?
A: “If you want to be good to yourself, live your best life, and be who you are authentically, then Blue Zones is a great path to follow. It's a broad approach to health that encompasses not only you, but those around you as well.”
