Savoring Summer and Living Well | A Message from CEO Dave Ressler

The Aspen lifestyle. It is legendary, world renowned and highly coveted. It is the reason our real estate prices continue to skyrocket over the decades and why so many of us make other sacrifices to be part of it. It started with skiing and grew to become the fulfillment of Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke’s vision of mind, body and spirit, along with many of our other thought leaders and innovators over the years. It is also no longer just specific to Aspen but extends throughout our beautiful valley. For certain, the Aspen lifestyle is a force.

The Aspen lifestyle certainly has been merited by how we live. Full-time, part-time, some-time community members alike, we all have our favorite activities and pastimes. The common denominator is that our lifestyles take advantage of our magnificent mountains, our plentiful sunshine, and the unique amenities that contribute to our whole health. This is why Pitkin County ranks among the healthiest counties in the nation, most recently 5^th among rural communities by US News and World Report. Our lifestyles are healthy lifestyles, and our collective health is the better for it.

In this issue of our enewsletter, as in our recently released Healthy Journey magazine, we focus on our Aspen lifestyle with articles and information we hope you will find useful. With the arts and cultural season in full swing, we share information on the impact of the arts on your wellbeing. And we’ll help you find fresh, local produce to nourish your summer at farmers markets and CSAs throughout the valley.

There is another benefit to being healthy as well. A healthy community has lower health insurance costs. As a part of the Valley Health Alliance and through our partnerships with our large local employers and neighboring hospitals, we have promoted primary care services to better care for our community and its health. Through Rocky Mountain Health Plans, we are in turn able to provide lower cost health insurance on the individual exchange, Connect for Health Colorado. This assures better and more affordable access to healthcare in the valley.

It all starts with a healthy lifestyle. Think about that the next time you are out hiking, biking or participating in any activity that takes advantage of our natural beauty and cultural wonders. The benefits of your doing so extend well beyond the moment that you are enjoying and to more than just yourself. As a community, we all enjoy healthier lives. That is the big picture. So, get out there and enjoy!

Dave