Heber Valley Life

Tag: Mental Health

  • Body Mind Connection

    Body Mind Connection

    As the winter snows settle across Heber Valley and our days turn crisp, shorter, and more introspective, it’s the perfect season to reflect on the deeper connections between physical training and our mental and emotional health. Over the past two+ years writing for Heber Valley Life Magazine, you’ve heard me talk about trail running, ultra events, fitness, personal training, and the grit it takes to push limits. But this season I want to go one level deeper: how the discipline required to train your body, in fact, becomes a training ground for your mind and emotions.

    As a professional endurance athlete (ultra runner), a coach, and an elite personal trainer based here in the valley, I’ve seen it in my own life and in the lives of my clients: when we consistently train our physical bodies, something shifts in how we handle stress, setbacks, emotions, and life’s inevitable challenges. I live by four core attributes that I believe anchor this whole process: attitude, consistency, effort, and patience. In this article, I’ll share how each of these plays out not just in physical training, but in mental and emotional resilience.

    Attitude: The Starting Point

    Physical training begins long before you lace up the shoes or strap on the watch. It begins with belief: belief you can set a goal, belief you can chase it, belief you’re worthy of the process. I encourage my clients to adopt a positive and proactive attitude. This isn’t naïve optimism, it’s realistic confidence. In ultra running, there are long hours, dark moments, hills you didn’t expect, and weather you didn’t anticipate. The same is true in life: emotional storms, work stress, family demands, and mental fatigue. A positive attitude doesn’t mean ignoring reality; it means believing you can engage with reality, you can train through it, and you can adapt.

    When you train your body with the mindset: “I may be tired, but I can move. I may feel doubt, but I can step forward.” You build neurological and emotional patterns of resilience. You’re not just building muscles and cardiovascular fitness; you’re building confidence in yourself and in your capacity to handle more. That translates to mental and emotional health: you start believing that you can handle not just the training session, but life’s difficult bouts.

    Consistency: The Power of Routine

    “Consistency is king,” I say this to every athlete I coach and every client I train. Why? Because our bodies—and our minds—evolve toward their primary environment. If you show up day after day, week after week, the body adapts. It becomes stronger, more efficient, more resilient. But, and this is key, so does your mind. You are telling your brain, your nervous system: this is what we do. We move. We recover. We prepare. We adapt.

    From an emotional health standpoint, consistency gives structure and predictability in a world of change. It gives your mental state a foundation: “I show up.” When emotions run high, when stress mounts, when life throws something unexpected—that consistent routine becomes an anchor. In my own ultra running career, the days of consistency are the ones where, mentally, I felt the strongest. When I skipped too many sessions or was erratic, the mind started to roam: doubt, worry, fear. However, the body still craved structure, and the mind craved that same pattern.

    Effort: Turning Consistency into Growth

    Consistency is the baseline—but effort is the catalyst. If you merely show up but do nothing, you may preserve fitness, you may maintain the status quo, but you won’t transform. In the world of endurance athletics, as in life, you must push beyond your comfort zone. You must structure training to challenge your current strengths. You must invite discomfort so adaptation can occur.

    In doing so, you build not only physical strength, but emotional and mental grit. You learn to lean into discomfort. You learn to trust your process. You encounter adversity in training: flat runs, long climbs, fatigue, injury risk, and you learn that your mind and emotions don’t have to collapse. You show up, you steer your body, you move forward. That carries into daily life: you’ll face setbacks, stressors, long work days, and family strains. If your training has already primed you to tolerate fatigue, to embrace effort, to lean when it gets tough—you are more emotionally stable, more mentally prepared, more grounded.

    Patience: The Often‐Overlooked Attribute

    Here’s where many people stall—not for lack of desire, not for lack of show up, but for impatience. In our instant everything world, we want fast results. We want the body change, the mental calm, the emotional resilience—yesterday. But training, physical, mental, and emotional, is a long game. And patience is the linchpin.

    As a coach, I often say, “Patience is the asset; impatience is the liability.” Because when you get impatient, you cut corners, skip parts of the process, overdo, under recover, compare yourself unfairly, and abandon training. Physically, you may wreck yourself or burn out. Mentally and emotionally, you may spiral into feelings of frustration, guilt, shame, and comparison. Meanwhile, the consistent effort you had built begins to erode. The emotional benefits you might have harvested begin to fade.

    A Call to ACTION

    If you’re reading this, I invite you to see your physical training not just as body work but as mind and emotional work. You don’t have to be an ultra‐runner or an elite athlete to benefit. It might be three consistent workouts a week, it might be strength work plus trail time, or it might simply be moving outside despite the cold. What matters is attitude, consistency, effort, and patience.

    If you find your mind racing, emotions tangled, stress mounting—try shifting the lens: what if the fastest route through this emotional terrain is physical motion? What if your bike ride, your run, your snow shoe walk is a training session for your emotional resilience? It is. Because when you train your body, your brain, your nervous system, and your emotional self, everything works together and moves along. You build strength for life, not just for sport.

    This winter, let the valley’s white stillness be your invitation—not just to train your legs, but to train your mind and heart. Let your physical routine become your emotional anchor. Build your strength—not just in the muscles you can see, but in the quiet confidence, the mental clarity, and the emotional steadiness that comes from commitment.

    Here’s to the process. Here’s to the journey. Here’s to training body, mind, and heart together. And if you want the help of a professional fitness trainer and coach, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. I would be honored to support you through the process of reaching your life’s fitness goals.

    More info:

    @adventure.your.potential 

    adventureyourpotential.com

  • Prevention is Connection

    Prevention is Connection

    Mental health is a broad and complex topic. This article is not meant to be comprehensive. Suicide is a sensitive and serious topic. Our deepest love goes out to anyone who is struggling, getting treatment, or has lost someone to suicide.

    Are You Thinking About Suicide?

    I know. It’s a very uncomfortable question to ask. However, it is one that has become normal and necessary in our house. Suicide is something I never thought I would have to worry about. When our daughter was admitted into a mental hospital, on three separate occasions, for having suicidal plans and multiple attempts all within a five month period — including a life flight to Primary Children’s Hospital — suicide and mental health took on a whole new meaning.

    After the third stay, she began a long term treatment program. Deciding what to do and where to go was one of the hardest decisions of our life. Mental illness is tough and affects the whole family. The good news though is that the more we open up, the more we discover that mental illness is more common than we ever thought. The more we share and talk about suicide the easier it is to find resources and connect with others. Ganel-Lyn Condie, a Utah author, speaker, and advocate says there are three groups of people: you have or had a mental illness, you love someone who does, or you have lost someone to suicide. Mental illness or suicide can happen to anyone.

    You Mean Everything

    “Are you okay? Is something wrong? Can I help you?” These are all questions Kevin Hines desperately wanted to hear before jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. He miraculously survived and is now a suicide prevention activist and powerful speaker. As soon as he jumped, he realized what he had done and did everything he could not to die. Most suicide survivors have shared that they immediately regretted their actions. I believe it, because the words my daughter said almost immediately after making a life-threatening mistake were, “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die.”

    Life is hard, unfair, and at times excruciatingly painful, but life is also meant to strengthen, teach, and most importantly connect us. We ALL matter. YOU MATTER. Sometimes people feel so deeply hopeless, and erroneously think that death is the answer. Tragically, some people die by suicide. Thinking about or planning on ending life is usually a symptom of underlying problems that can be treated. And there is absolutely help and hope. No one should suffer in silence; talk to someone. It is okay, not to be okay. Happiness is not the absence of adversity. Time is too precious to tease and tempt death. Life is a gift. Your life is a gift. You are a unique, irreplaceable gift. Shared, experienced, and loved, life is rewarding, good, and at times overwhelmingly joyful.

    Something to Be Aware of

    Suicide is the second leading cause of death nationally in people ages 10-34. Unintentional injuries or accidents is number one1. Utah was ranked 10th in 2020, for number of suicide deaths in ages 5-25 behind Alaska, Montana, South Dakota, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma, Idaho, and Kansas (May 2022, Vol. 50 Number 7, Communique [a publication for National Association for School Psychologists]). Why are people afraid to ask for help or talk about feelings? Looking at the states above, maybe there’s some pioneer pride, explorer ego, homesteader honor, or cowboy conceit that needs to be redefined. Starting in the teen years, the risk for suicidal death grows higher as a person grows into early adulthood. People ages 18-25 have the most suicidal thoughts and attempts.

    The 2021 Wasatch County School District Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) Survey which is done every 2 years, was completed by 1450 students: 407 6th graders, 401 8th graders, 423 10th graders, and 201 12th graders. 4.6% of the students who answered said they had attempted suicide one or more times during the past 12 months. That’s a staggering 67 Wasatch County middle grade and high school kids — our kids — who have had multiple attempts. And, Wasatch is lower than the state average, which was 7%. 71,001 students across the state took the SHARP survey, 4970 attempted multiple times. 10.1% of Wasatch participants said they made a plan about how they would attempt suicide during the past 12 months. 12.6% said yes to seriously considering attempting suicide during the past 12 months. Thankfully, the percentage diminishes from considering to planning to attempting, but sadly it is still on the minds of many teenagers.

    In the book, If Your Adolescent Has Depression or Bipolar Disorder, the authors state that, “For the parents of adolescents with mood disorders, the biggest fear of all may be suicide… Over 90% of suicide victims have a psychiatric illness at the time of their death, and mood disorders are among the main culprits. All too often, the disorders had gone undiagnosed or untreated. Many suicides in young people seem to be impulsive acts triggered by a stressful event, such as getting into trouble at school or with the law, breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend, or having a fight with friends.  These events might not be sufficient in themselves to cause suicidal behavior, but when the stress is compounded by untreated depression or mania, the results can be tragic. In fact, mood disorders play a role in about two-thirds of completed suicides.” (If Your Adolescent Has Depression or Bipolar Disorder, Evans, Dwight, and Linda Andrews, p. 55-56, 2005)

    Nothing to be Ashamed Of

    Utah has the highest percentage of mental illness, at 29.68% followed by Oregon, West Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Washington, Idaho, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Arizona. It’s not easy to admit something is wrong or you need help but the brain is susceptible to disease just like any other organ or part of the body. Recognizing signs and understanding mental illness is important because many suicides happen during the first few episodes; before treatment with medication, therapy, and coping skills are learned.  Knowing that hopeless, painfully dark thoughts and emotions will eventually pass is important. In a world of split-second messages, quick searches with immediate answers, fast food, and even instant potatoes (being an Idaho native I think the real thing is much better) enduring is a tough thing to sell. Our daughter explained, “Suicidal ideation doesn’t belong to a specific lifestyle. I myself felt rather selfish for feeling this way because to me there was nothing to feel sorry for. When I realized that anyone can feel this way things started to change, and I finally (hesitantly at first) decided to seek out help.” Recognizing and getting professional treatment early for any mental illness is not a sign of weakness. Kevin Hines likes to say, “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional”.

    Dr. Ben Springer, Wasatch County School District’s school psychologist sums it all up “To me, prevention is connection. The best prevention we can do, whether it’s suicide, alcohol, drug abuse, addressing mental health, depression, aggression, anything, you name it. We see aggression in our schools and in communities. The more we connect with families and one another, the more we can talk and open up those channels for support.”

    We were given valuable information from acquaintances and friends who had experienced their own crises. They shared professional opinions that helped us make a decision about what our next step should be for our daughter. We have many more neighbors, friends, and family, who continue to offer love and support.

    Hope is just one person away. If you are struggling mentally or emotionally, find a trusted family member or friend that will listen, validate, and help you get professional help. If you are in a situation where you are not in a safe place or feel that you do not have anyone who will help you, please call one of the hotlines or places listed. They are caring professionals that will listen to you and have resources if you need additional help. If it’s an emergency call 911. Helping someone is just one question away. If you have anyone tell you that they are struggling, don’t be afraid to ask the hard or uncomfortable questions.

    Let’s look out and watch for clues that people are struggling and let them know they are loved and not alone.  We are blessed to live in an amazing and majestic valley with beauty all around but the most awe-inspiring asset we have is each other.

    Suicide Warning Signs and Risk Factors

    •   Threatening to hurt or kill themselves
    •   Seeking to access pills, weapons, or other ways to kill themselves
    •   Expressing hopelessness, no purpose
    •   Having rage, anger, or seeking revenge
    •   Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities, without thinking
    •  Feeling trapped
    •   Drug or alcohol use
    •   Withdrawing from friends or family
    •   Dramatic change in mood, for better or worse
    •   Sleeping all the time or unable to sleep
    •   Anxious or agitated
    •   Giving away possessions, making “final arrangements”
    •  The recent suicide or death of a friend or relative
    •   Previous suicide attempts
    •   Preoccupation with themes of death or expressing suicidal thoughts
    •  Depression, conduct disorder and problems with adjustment such as substance abuse, particularly when two or more of these are present
    •   Sudden and extreme changes in eating habits/losing or gaining weight
    •  Apathy about appearance or health
    •   Frequent irritability or unexplained crying
    •   Lingering expressions of unworthiness or failure
    •   Lack of interest in the future
    •   A sudden lifting of spirits, when there have been other indicators, may point to a decision to end the pain of life through suicide

    Try these simple tips for talking

    Do Say

    “Thanks for opening up to me.”

    “Is there anything I can do to help?”

    “I’m sorry to hear that. It must be tough.”

    “I’m here for you when you need me.”

    “I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”

    “People do get better.”

    “Oh man, that sucks.”

    “Can I drive you to an appointment?”

    “How are you feeling today?”

    Don’t Say

    “It could be worse.”

    “Just deal with it.”

    “Everyone feels that way sometimes.”

    “You may have brought this on yourself.”

    “You’ve got to pull yourself together.”

    “We’ve all been there.”

    “Snap out of it.”

    “Maybe try thinking happier thoughts”

    Source: MakeItOK.org

    Myths About Suicide

    Myth: Talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will encourage suicide attempts.

    Fact: Talking about suicide provides the opportunity for communication. Fears shared are more likely to diminish. The first step in encouraging a person with thoughts of suicide to live comes from talking about those feelings. A simple inquiry about whether or not the person is intending to end their life can start the conversation. However, talking about suicide should be carefully managed.

    Myth: People who threaten suicide are just seeking attention.

    Fact: All suicide attempts must be treated as though the person has the intent to die. Do not dismiss a suicide attempt as simply being an attention-gaining device. It is likely that the person has tried to gain attention and, therefore, this attention is needed. The attention they get may well save their lives.

    Myth: Once a young person thinks about suicide, they will forever think about suicide.

    Fact: Most young people who are considering suicide will only be that way for a limited period of their lives. Given proper assistance and support, they will probably recover and continue to lead meaningful and happy lives unhindered by suicidal concerns.

    Myth: Some people are always suicidal.

    Fact: Nobody is suicidal at all times. The risk of suicide for any individual varies across time, as circumstances change. This is why it is important for regular assessments of the level of risk in individuals who are ‘at risk’.

    Myth: Young people who talk about suicide never attempt or die by suicide.

    Fact: Talking about suicide can be a plea for help and it can be a late sign in the progression towards a suicide attempt. Those who are most at risk will show other signs apart from talking about suicide. If you have concerns about a young person who talks about suicide:

    •   Encourage them to talk further and help them to find appropriate counseling assistance.
    •   Ask if the person is thinking about making a suicide attempt.
    •  Ask if the person has a plan.
    •   Think about the completeness of the plan and how dangerous it is. Do not trivialize plans that seem less complete or less dangerous. All suicidal intentions are serious and must be acknowledged as such.
    •   Encourage the person to develop a personal safety plan. This can include time spent with others, check-in points with significant adults, and plans for the future.

    Myth: People who are thinking about suicide cannot help themselves.

    Fact: While contemplating suicide, people may have a distorted perception of their actual life situation and what solutions are appropriate for them to take. However, with support and constructive assistance from caring and informed people around them, they can gain full self-direction and self-management in their lives.

    Myth: Break-ups in relationships happen so frequently, they do not cause suicide.

    Fact: Suicide can be precipitated by the loss of a relationship.

    Myth: If a person attempts suicide and survives, they will never make a further attempt.

    Fact: A suicide attempt is regarded as an indicator of further attempts. It is likely that the level of danger will increase with each future suicide attempt.

    Myth: All young people with thoughts of suicide are depressed.

    Fact: While depression is a contributory factor in most suicides, it need not be present for a person to attempt or die by suicide.

    Myth: Most young people thinking about suicide never seek or ask for help with their problems.

    Fact: Evidence shows that they often tell their school peers of their thoughts and plans. Most adults with thoughts of suicide visit a medical doctor during the three months prior to killing themselves. Adolescents are more likely to ‘ask’ for help through non-verbal gestures than to express their situation verbally to others.

    Myth: Young people thinking about suicide are insane or mentally ill.

    Fact: Although adolescents thinking about suicide are likely to be extremely unhappy and may be classified as having a mood disorder, such as depression, most are not legally insane. However, there are small numbers of individuals whose mental state meets psychiatric criteria for mental illness and who need psychiatric help.

    Myth: Once a person is intent on suicide, there is no way of stopping them.

    Fact: Suicides can be prevented. People can be helped. Suicidal crises can be relatively short-lived. Immediate practical help such as staying with the person, encouraging them to talk, and helping them build plans for the future can avert the intention to attempt or die by suicide. Such immediate help is valuable at a time of crisis, but appropriate counseling will then be required.

    Myth: Marked and sudden improvement in the mental state of an attempter following a suicidal crisis or depressive period signifies the suicide risk is over.

    Fact: The opposite may be true. In the three months following an attempt, a young person is at most risk of dying by suicide. The apparent lifting of the problems could mean the person has made a firm decision to die by suicide and feels better because of this decision.

    Myth: Every death is preventable.

    Fact: Sadly, no matter how well intentioned, alert, and diligent people’s efforts may be, there is no way of preventing all suicides from occurring.

    Myth: Suicide is much more common in young people from higher (or lower) socioeconomic status (SES) areas.

    Fact: The causes of suicidal behavior cut across SES boundaries. While the literature in the area is incomplete, there is no definitive link between SES and suicide. This does not preclude localized tendencies or trends in a population during a certain period of time.

    Source: MakeItOK.org

     

    Suicide Crisis / Emergency Numbers to Call

    • 911 or 988
      988 is the new national number
      for mental health crisis
    • 800-273-TALK (8255)
      National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    • 801-318-4016
      Wasatch Mental Health
      Crisis Line
    • 800-932-4616
      helpline for emotional listening
    • 800-662-HELP (4357)
      Substance Abuse/Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline
    • SafeUT App
      Access a chat, call, or tip — all Wasatch students have this on
      their school device

     

    Mental Health Services and Resources

    • Utah Strong Recovery Project 385-386-2289
      7am-7pm Counselors are available for stress, anxiety, and depression help
    • Wasatch County Family Clinic
      435-654-3003
      Offering a variety of services
      for the entire family
    • Wasatch Community Foundation 435-315-2130
      Financial assistance to those
      who qualify
    • Christian Center of Park City
      435-649-2260 x1
      Counseling services
    • Emotional Health Relief Hotline
      833-442-2211
      10am-10pm
      Counseling services
    • Wasatch County Victims
      Advocate for Domestic Violence
      435-657-3300
      Crisis intervention and shelter
    • Wasatch School District
      435-654-0640
      Counselors and social workers are available to students
    • WCSD has a Family Education Center that promotes mental health and wellness through online info and evening classes, info on the Facebook page: Wasatch Wellness. Contact Ben Springer, Ph.D., NCSP (435-654-0280, x 4124)
  • Fortune Favors the Prepared

    Fortune Favors the Prepared

    Recall Aesop’s fable The Ant and the Grasshopper. In all his Greek wisdom, Aesop told of wise ants and their preparations against leaner times in comparison to foolish Grasshopper, who found great pleasure in his life, until winter winds began to blow. He mourned taunting remarks to his busy little friends in earlier days and found himself at their mercy when times were tough. The moral of the story: Be Prepared.

    Fortunately, we don’t need to spend our entire summers hauling necessary sustenance into a hole in the ground. What can we do to be ready for a rainy day? Plan and prepare. Emergency Preparedness consists of four main survival essentials: medical, food, water, and shelter. All take a little time, money, and effort, but don’t all good things? As abundant as things may appear, the most unimaginable, seemingly absurd circumstances can quickly diminish the essentials and leave us vulnerable in the most basic human ways.

    MEETING MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

    At the forefront of the world’s eye this past year, and continuing to be a pressing issue, global health has given us an educated perspective for preparation. I will point out the elephant in the room and suggest it wise to take the precautions and motions you deem worthy during our current pandemic. Suggestions for preparations would include a supply of masks; medical, reusable, or a combination of the two. Having items like a thermometer, sanitizer, and disinfectant are also crucial. Consider a vaccination when it becomes available to you.

    Having a fundamental knowledge of both physical and mental first aid is invaluable. As a society, we’ve made great strides in curbing the stigma surrounding mental health. Suicide prevention is a skill we should all seriously consider acquiring. There are basic classes offered in the community for both medical and mental health first aid. Staying up to date on CPR and first aid is vital — we never know when we might need it. I carry a CPR face shield and other first aid supplies in my car and bag. I stay CPR certified, hoping that if faced with an emergency, I can change someone’s story.

    FOOD

    My in-laws have a resident squirrel, named Stanley whose winter preparation has provided entertainment for this cute couple and my son. Take notes from Stanley and his kind. The rule of thumb according to food storage specialists is to have at the minimum a three-month supply. But not everyone can do that. Kristen Curley, President of Nitro-Pac Preparedness Center in Midway offers this advice, “We recommend that you at least have a two-week supply of food and water per person. This gives you peace of mind in case something does happen. Sometimes emergencies might just be a couple of days, sometimes they might be longer; a two-week supply is a good start. If you can do more, then ultimately the next steps would be to have a thirty-day, three-month, six-month, or one-year supply.”

    Store what you know how to use and what you like. Purchase extra frequently used items and rotate them as you go. If you’d rather not worry about rotating food, Kristin shared that dehydrated and freeze-dried foods have a longer shelf life. Depending on the brand, freeze-dried food can have a thirty-year shelf life. You should store canned and dry goods in a cool, dry, dark space. Ideally, you can devote a part of your basement or a deep closet to food storage. If you’re lucky you have a cellar. Space tight? Get creative with nooks and crannies you can utilize. Think of space under beds, in crawl spaces and attics, the tops of closets, or under staircases.

    MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

    Adult and Youth Classes

    This year includes new content, focusing primarily on the youth. Classes are held in the evenings, weekly for two- or four-week sessions.

    MORE INFORMATION:

    WATER

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend storing, at minimum, one gallon of water for drinking and sanitization per person for three days. Remember to factor in if you need water for any food storage meals. Purchasing water is an option or there’s the route of filling your own containers. Be sure to refresh regularly. You should rotate or refill your water storage every 6 months. See the CDC’s website section titled Preparing a Home Water Supply for details.

    Consider a rain barrel for collecting water. Please note, it’s not advised as drinking water. It may acquire chemicals on its way to your barrel. Think practical, watering fruits and vegetables, washing clothes, or even filling a toilet. My home is on a well and it’s incredibly inconvenient to use the bathroom when the power is out. That is a messy situation we don’t care to think about, but your future self may be mighty grateful for that quick internet search and purchase. There are a plethora of water barrel options available; ranging from efficient and inexpensive to decorative.

    SHELTER

    We’re generally blessed with fairly nice shelters. It’s a good idea to have plans for emergency situations that call for staying in place or evacuation. In cases of evacuation, unfortunately, we have yet to figure out how to magically pack our homes into a suitcase or backpack. Having a survival shelter that you can quickly set up to protect you from the elements can be the deciding factor between life and death. There are many different types of portable shelters from tarps and tube tents to pop-up tents, inflatable tents, and backpacking tents. What works for one may not work for another; write down what your needs are, what your budget is, and remember something is better than nothing. A few things to consider when looking are: quality, materials, structural design, weight, company track record, reviews, your climate, occupancy, and what best fits your individual needs. You can also visit thepreparednessexperience.com for their 2021 list of best survival tents for emergencies. Don’t just take their word for it though — do your research — and do what is best for your situation.

    Evacuation plans also call for a 72-hour kit, prepackaged or self-assembled for the house and the car. Each member of the family should have their own kit. Additionally, it’s a good idea to have heavy-duty 72-hour ‘family’ kits. I have two; one with medical and survival items and another with food and water. Everyone’s kit will be different depending on their needs but all should include the basics; first aid, food, water, shelter.

    Kits should be easily accessible at a moment’s notice on your way out the door. I store mine in the mudroom. A shelf in the garage also works well.

    Over the years I’ve assembled a pack for each of my children with spare clothing, a personal water bottle, a few food items, and entertainment (ie. coloring book, stuffed animal, card game). Kits should be checked and restocked at least once a year. Clothes can be rotated out for seasons or you can have a winter set and a summer set. If you can, include clothing for three days this will allow for damage during a disaster or clean up. For children pack extra as bedwetting is a common symptom of trauma. When considering clothing for children it is recommended to pack used clothing (one to two sizes bigger) that is familiar to what they already wear — children can feel the difference especially if they have special needs.

    We are living in uncertain times and there’s no time like the present to get started on emergency preparedness. Like the busy ants and Stanley and his nut supply — whatever your inspiration; be prepared for the worst so you can be at your best.

    THINGS YOU NEVER THINK OF

    BABY ON BOARD

    Diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, diaper rash cream, change of clothes.

    CHILDREN

    Comfort items, games, entertainment, change of clothes.

    MEDICAL CONDITION

    Eyeglasses, contact lenses and solution, diabetic supplies, prescriptions.

    WOMEN – LISTEN UP!

    Feminine sanitary items.

    FINANCIAL

    Keep cash in your kits.

    CONVENIENCE ITEMS

    Flashlight, chargers for electronic devices, batteries, printed maps, tool kit, knife, shovel, blanket(s), fire starter, masks, disinfectant, flares, matches.

  • Wasatch Women in Business

    Wasatch Women in Business

    When Ida Sapp was a new mother, her daughter became very sick. She was underweight, experienced severe allergies, and her skin was raw from eczema. Ida took her to numerous doctors, naturopaths, and homeopaths, begging each to determine what was wrong with her child. “She just got sicker and sicker,” Ida explains. “At one point, she couldn’t walk because she didn’t have skin on her legs. When she was seven, she started showing memory problems, which was really concerning.” Discouraged and desperate, Ida took her daughter to a chiropractor who also worked with energy healing. The chiropractor pushed on her daughter’s belly and rubbed his hands over her head — then he sent them on their way. What happened next felt miraculous. Almost immediately, Ida’s daughter could walk again, and within ten days, her skin was completely clear. Her digestion improved, and Ida’s seven-year struggle was finally over as her daughter’s health began to improve consistently.

    Whatever this was that healed her child, Ida had to find out more about it. What she discovered was the deep and fascinating world of energy work. After delving into her research and exploration, Ida felt called to work in the field, helping others who were struggling, just like her family had been for so long. She researched several modalities, ultimately finding that what resonated with her the most was The Body Code technique.

    The Body Code is a particular form of energy work that relies on the principle that everything is energy. We are supposed to experience emotions, learn from them, and then let them go. Sometimes, these emotions become “stuck,” and these unprocessed emotional energies manifest in real problems with our health, relationships, and careers. Anyone who has ever experienced stress headaches or gotten an upset stomach from nervousness knows how emotions can appear as physical problems in the body. The Body Code focuses on correcting imbalances in our subconscious that create barriers to moving forward in our lives. Ida found her passion in helping people break through those barriers to become the best version of themselves. After a few years of studying and practicing, Ida became a certified Body Code Coach.

    We have all wanted to make significant strides in life. We yearn for better health, more enriching relationships, and a stronger sense of balance in our lives. Yet, for many of us, these goals frequently feel like dreams on the horizon, just out of reach, and we don’t know how to make them a reality. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve had unmet expectations (oooooh, me!) or like you’re a bit stuck where you are (also me!!), you may be struggling with breaking past blocks in your subconscious that are holding you back from reaching your potential. If given the opportunity to have someone step in and give you the boost you need to correct your energy imbalances and live a more empowered life, would you take it?

    Well, I did! Despite my skepticism for anything that falls heavily into what I call the “woo-woo, New Agey stuff,” I agreed to let Ida work on me — and you know what — it works! In the year since I began doing Ida’s Body Code sessions, I have made some pretty significant changes. Here are just a few; I was able to unload a project taking a great deal of energy and causing a large amount of stress in my life. I broke through some financial barriers that I couldn’t have imagined a short time ago — I bought a bigger house, doubled my income, and got out of debt. And I found more clarity about what I want — and what I don’t want — in my life.

    I’m not the only client of Ida’s who has had success; another client of Ida’s had been suffering for almost twenty years from back pain and severe arthritis due to two broken vertebrae that hadn’t healed properly. She worked with Ida for two months, and, in that time, her back pain decreased tremendously. Her mobility increased to a point where she finally felt like she had her quality of life back.

    When another client’s marriage was affected by her chronic headaches, insomnia, heavy feelings of despair, and deep emotional anguish, she began taking the Body Code sessions. After working with Ida, she finally started sleeping again, her headaches subsided, her marriage improved, she found a new job, and has a newfound joy for life. Now her husband is working with Ida, too! These are the stories that inspire Ida every day and make her excited about her work.

    One of the reasons why I believe Ida is so good at what she does is because, as fulfilling as her job is, balancing her work with raising a family is something that she struggles with too. She gets her clients. She understands them. Ida works out of a shed in their yard that her husband converted into an office, and she tries to fit all her hours in while the children are at school. “There are also the normal daily requirements of cooking, cleaning, shopping, and running the kids around,” she says. “Some days, I feel like a taskmaster instead of an ally and champion to my children. I have had to work hard to build intentional, relaxed time with my children into my day.”

    Seeing her clients make radical transformations is what keeps Ida going. She loves being able to watch people make positive changes in their lives due to her work. Knowing how hard it is to look for answers and come up empty-handed, she is excited to offer people an opportunity to affect real change in their lives. Ida has expanded her business to include coaching, which allows her to increase her Body Code sessions and use her breadth of knowledge to support clients in moving forward and achieving significant growth. “I love seeing people empowered,” Ida says. “Lately, I have been working with several women who are at a crossroads in their lives. The transformation that takes place and the sense of empowerment that they gain over a short period of time has been very rewarding.”

    To learn more about Ida Sapp and her work, visit idasapp.com.

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