TED Talk - Robert Waldinger - What Makes a Good Life?

Opening Your Time Together
In your small group, please discuss the following:
  • Share your names, where you live, and your children’s ages
  • What were some highlights from your Christmas and New Year’s celebrations?  Did you travel, or stay in the area? 
  • The start of a new year often prompts reflections on the past and aspirations for the future – even if they don’t take the form of “resolutions” – and that is, in part, what our talks today are about.  Do you have any aspirational goals for 2019, and what makes you want to pursue those particular goals?

Watching the TED Talk
Discussing the TED Talk
  • The biggest takeaway from the first video’s 75 year study is the immense value of relationships for our physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing – and yet often investing time in our relationships takes a backseat to other daily tasks and activities.  How do you try to balance between family, friendships, and obligations?  Are you satisfied with the balance you’ve struck?
  • Our second video talks about prioritizing goals/relationships that are important to us and building our schedules (to the degree that we can) around them.  What parts of your schedule are “elastic” and which ones are “fixed” – how could you adjust your elastic time for other priorities?