The Sedona Public Library staff have been busy bees since the new year of 2024 began! The library program calendar has been filled with a wonderful and diverse assortment of community events, from sharing a piece of history with the showing of Oppenheimer on our Monday Movie Nights, to discovering your natural gifts with Who are you? A Cosmic Journey into Your Uniqueness. There were also bodies stretching with our new Yoga at the Library, our book club readers dove into female empowerment and friendship with The Color Purple, and artists of all levels connected to their inner Picasso with fun Free Flow Paint Night.
We also packed the house with a new four-part Longevity Series: Ted Talk Films at the Library. This experiential program tested an innovative approach of combining short educational films with group discussion covering various topics about living a long and happy life. The program was co-hosted by longevity subject expert, Geno Kelly, whose volunteer contribution to the program was invaluable. Together we welcomed community members as they joined us on an insightful journey exploring varied fundamentals of longevity in today’s world.
Just like students on the first day at a new school, some attendees were a little timid to share, but that wore off very quickly as the group got more comfortable with the hosts and with one another over the passing weeks. During discussion breaks in between films, attendees’ hands were flying up at every session! The room was filled with many curious minds. Engaging questions were asked, individual experiences and knowledge were shared, and laughter flowed easily. That is what community connection is all about! Attendees shared stories about moving to a new town or country, surviving grief, ways to manage stress, acts of kindness, and so much more. I loved this sort of tribal story-telling gathering, it reminded me of the famous quote by Jo Cox; We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than that which divides us.
Some of the information and resources shared in this program covered research from the Blue Zones, as well as such topics as the state of mind of aging, habits of ageism we were taught when we were young, how critical our relationships are to aging-well, the benefits of natural movement, ways to prevent Alzheimer’s, and the secret Italian wine that has up to three times the levels of beneficial flavonoids (a type of antioxidant) as other wines! And that is just a drop in the bucket.
Here are some of the comments we received about the Library’s Longevity Series:
“Helpful and encouraging!”
“Created community – Up beat!”
” I do well but learned I can do even better. Long live Geno!”
” Information was excellent”
“Speakers were motivating”
“Great informative program, I learned a lot”
“Great presenters”
“Enjoyed the content and the way the presenters engaged the audience”
” Very informative and educational. I really liked the main speaker, Geno, I felt like I learned a lot!”
Over the four weeks of learning and discussing ways to live better-longer it was clear that there is a huge interest in these topics. So much so that the Sedona Library Longevity Society was created as an off take to the Longevity Series! So, even if you missed the series, you will be very welcome here! The Sedona Library Longevity Society is a social gathering of community members dedicated to exploring new approaches towards achieving healthy longevity. How we age becomes increasingly important as we live longer. We will cover new perspectives on aging-well and how they can benefit us as individuals and those around us. Attendees are encouraged to share personal experiences as they test new skills each month, focused on proven habits meant to help us age better. Join this micro-school of longevity, where you are both the student and the teacher! The first group meeting is Thursday March 14, 2:00-3:00. Future film series and guest speakers will be scheduled separately.
Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your gifts supplement the funding and support we receive from the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai County property taxes, and Friends of the Sedona Library. Please visit sedonalibrary.org/donate to make an online gift.
As published by Red Rock News
Library News Column for March 8, 2024
Written by Patty Kelly, Library Assistant II