How to stop and listen to the world around you: tips to help you be in the moment (or the ‘hear’ and now)
In a world that never seems to slow down, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly rushing from one thing to the next. Between the emails, texts, reminders, and to-do lists, most people have become experts at tuning out their surroundings. But sometimes, what we really need isn’t another productivity hack or digital distraction. Sometimes […]
Stories of Hope and Redemption from Within the Walls of the Utah State Correctional Facility
As a missionary serving at My Story Matters, I have recently had the privilege of participating in and witnessing history in the making within the criminal justice system. Our self-improvement course, Captain Your Story, is available to all community members, but it has been especially popular within the fortified gates of Utah’s two prisons — […]
Life Lessons From the Chessboard:How Chess Reflects Life, Business, and Relationships
I learned how to play chess when I was just seven years old. It wasn’t just a casual hobby in our house. I come from a line of chess players. My dad played, and so did my two older brothers. They took me under their wing and taught me everything they knew, from classic openings […]
The medicine of movement: cycle class for better health
At first glance, a cycle class can look a little intimidating. Rows of bikes. Blaring music. A room full of people pedaling like they’re in the Tour de France. But if you step into Cameron Smith’s class at Springville’s Clyde Recreation Center, you’ll find something a little different: a welcoming community; a low-impact but high-reward […]
Power Isn’t the prize, responsibility is
Most people first heard the phrase “With great power comes great responsibility” from a superhero movie. It’s one of those lines that stuck—partly because it came from Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben, and partly because it just feels true. It’s short, memorable, and has enough weight to make you pause. But what does it really mean? And […]
The most powerful message may not be words at all
We live in a world full of noise. Words come at us from every direction—text messages, social media, group chats, news headlines, phone calls, and endless opinions shared whether we ask for them or not. It can feel like everyone is talking all the time, and the pressure to respond, comment, explain, or defend ourselves […]
How your thinking habits cause you mix up what’s most important in your life
We all like to think that we prioritize the most important things in our lives every time. However, in truth, we don’t. Sometimes this is through conscious choices where we choose things we want over other things that we feel are more important to us according to our value system. Dr. Terry Warner, author of […]
Exhaustion as a Status Symbol: Why We Brag About Burnout and How to Break the Cycle
There’s a strange thing happening in our culture. People are tired, overwhelmed, overbooked, and stretched thin. And instead of treating this like a warning sign, many wear it like a badge of honor. Being exhausted has somehow become a way to signal that you’re successful, important, and productive. It’s become a kind of status symbol, […]
Making Waves: How Aqua Zumba Builds Strength, Community, and Joy
At first glance, Aqua Zumba might look like a poolside party at Clyde Recreation Center. But behind the upbeat music, splashing water, and smiling faces is a powerful form of movement that’s transforming lives—one dance step at a time. “It’s more than just a group fitness class,” says Jodi Thompson, who has been teaching fitness […]
A List of Acts of Service for July 2025
• Leave an anonymous gift for someone going through a tough time • Pay for a stranger’s meal or coffee • Write a heartfelt letter to someone who changed your life • Send a surprise care package to a friend • Leave encouraging sticky notes in public places • Offer to babysit for a single […]