Raise the Praise Challenge
Have you ever noticed how a little praise can put pep into someone’s step? In a business or in a family, praising someone causes them to feel good, and it brings a palatable positive vibe into the atmosphere. Praise also creates a sense of belonging. Thirteen years ago, researchers Emily Heaphy and Marcial Losada sought […]
Give to Get: Building a Great Community
I had to buy a stamp in order to mail a letter. Can you believe it’s up to 73 cents per stamp? But I digress. Heading out of the Post Office, I kindly greeted a stranger and received a kind greeting back. I started thinking about all the interactions we have with people in our […]
It’s a New Year! Make it the best!
The New Year is often expressed with “Baby New Year” and “Father Time” – together representing the birth of the new year and passing or the prior year. They do make an odd pair, but we have used these symbols together for over 100 years to help us reflect on what was and look forward […]
Thanks for the Memories:A walk down memory lane
I have a lot of memories of my sons growing up. One of my favorites is when there was a chore that the younger one thought he could get out of, so he tried to get my older son, who has high functioning autism, to do it. The older son declined, so my younger son […]
Encouragement in the Community
Good job! Way to go! That was a great catch! Wow, you can run fast! I can tell you’ve been practicing! You sounded great! You played beautifully! I loved your character! You rode that horse really well! It’s summer and the kids are participating in their chosen (or chosen for them) activities. While it can […]
What should you do if you’ve lost or found a pet?
As I scroll through my social media feed (some call this doom scrolling, but I can be an optimistic guy), I often come across posts about lost or found pets. I’ve gotten accustomed to seeing these posts, and when I do, I usually look at the picture and think, “That’s a cute little fellow. […]
Good People, I know you’re there
Jack Johnson sings a song, “Good People,” with the line “Where’d all the good people go?” Jack pines for the good news and TV programming of yesterday. It’s a catchy tune, but it leads you to think that the good days are gone. Do you remember the Bruce Willis movie “Sixth Sense?” The child psychologist […]
The Gratitude of Having Good Neigbors and Creating Neighborship
I remember a story of a young couple driving into a town and stopping at the gas station for gas, they asked the attendant, “We are moving away from the city. Can you tell us what kind of a town is this? Are the people nice?” The gas station attendant answered their question with a […]
Caring through action makes for a better community
I love this time of year. For all that’s wrong in the world, this is the season of “Good Will.” I see it in different businesses as someone wearing felt reindeer antlers greets a customer with extra joy. I see it on social media when people set up a pantry for families who are struggling […]
Three tips for someone who had to give a speech?
Have you ever wanted to overcome your fear of public speaking? Did you know that there is a place locally that provides a wealth of resources and community to be able to not only overcome this fear, but do it alongside others who share the same fear and goal? Utah Valley Toastmasters holds weekly meetings […]