The Weight of Being the Strong One
Every family has one. Every friend group does too. The steady one. The reliable one. The one who doesn’t fall apart when things get hard. The one people call when something goes wrong. If you are that person, you probably did not apply for the job; it simply happened. Over time, you became the calm […]
Two South Utah County Women Hope to Help Others‘Run Your Race” Through Race Pacing
When Holly Garcia and Stephanie Anderson toe the lines of many marathons and half marathons in the state of Utah, they do it with one purpose in mind — to help others reach their goals. Since 2012 Garcia of Springville and Anderson of Spanish Fork, have run a race pace organization called Run Your Race, […]
Why You Should Eat Chocolate After Your Run: The Science of Sticking to Healthy Habits
With spring right around the corner, many people are thinking about improving their health and getting more active. For most people, it can be tough to start. It feels daunting. It feels hard. We have our ways of doing things— our habits. Some habits are good and others not-so-much. Whether the habits we have help […]
‘Grief does not need to be fixed’: Santaquin woman seeks to help others following her own loss
Patti Merrill knows what it’s like to grieve deeply, and she is turning that grief into something beautiful. “Grief does not need to be fixed; grief needs to be witnessed, acknowledged and accompanied,” Merril told Serve Daily. One year ago, Patti Merrill of Santaquin, lost her husband, Roland Merrill, to terminal cancer, after what she […]
Beyond the Crash: Finding Purpose in Service After Life-Altering Trauma
One year ago, a semi-truck driver’s wife’s biggest worry and worst nightmare came true. The day started off as any normal day would: I woke up, started work and anticipated the end of the work week. My husband was excited to take our then 4-year-old granddaughter ice fishing on the weekend. He was on his […]
When Caring Becomes Heavy: Understanding Compassion Fatigue
There is a quiet kind of exhaustion that comes from caring deeply for a long time. It does not show up the way physical tiredness does, and it is not always easy to explain. You might still be functioning, still showing up, still doing what needs to be done. But inside, something feels worn down. […]
Choosing Self-Care Without Guilt
I want you to pause for a moment and do a simple exercise. Write down the five people you love most right now. Now look at your list. Did you put yourself on it? If you did, what number were you? And if you didn’t … why not? For so many of us, this question […]
Find Comfort in the Pain
“Find comfort in the pain” sounds like a contradiction at first. Pain is something we’re taught to avoid, fix, numb, or push through as quickly as possible. Comfort is what we seek when pain ends. Putting the two together can feel confusing, even unsettling. Why would anyone want to be comfortable with discomfort? And yet, […]
What Does it Mean that ‘No Good Deed Goes Unpunished?’
Most of us have heard the phrase at some point, usually said with a sigh or a half laugh: “No good deed goes unpunished.” It often comes out after someone has tried to help, only to find themselves stressed, blamed, or worse off than before. On the surface, the saying feels cynical, even discouraging. Why […]
Stronger Every Second: How Bill Castillo’s MRT Class Transforms Lives
At the Clyde Recreation Center in Springville, the music is loud, the energy is high, and the sweat is real — often due to Bill Castillo’s MRT (Metabolic Resistance Training) classes. MRT is a fast-paced class built around short bursts of intense exercise and quick recovery. It’s not your average gym routine, and trainer Bill […]