A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to host the wonderful alumni women of Ascend in St George, Utah. It all began Friday night, where 15 women met at a gorgeous house full of food, arts and crafts, arcade video games (Ms. Pac-Man, one of the favorites), roof top couches overlooking the Pine Valley Mountains, a pool, and a whole lotta women love. Friday night, we spent most of the night on the roof top lounge talking about boys, relationships, recovery, and much more. We decided that we shouldn’t stay up too late since we had a 7:30 am wake up call for our hike in Zions National Park. We got out of the house early Saturday and made our way to the trail called The Narrows. It’s a hike through the Virgin River in the narrowest part of Zions park. You are in water 95% of the hike and it is amazing. Especially, when it is 105 degrees outside. Before we began our hike, we stopped for a group photo with an unreal backdrop of walls measuring thousands of feet high. Right before a stranger took our photo, I glanced around at everyone in the picture and was filled with so much joy. How did I get so lucky that I am surrounded by these strong women?
After a full day in the sun, we returned to the house and got dinner ready. During the dinner, each person picked a random question to answer and chose two people to answer the same question. It was the best “get to know you” game and was suggested by an alumni that we play it. Then we went on to make our vision boards for the next year. It was a time to cut out from magazines, books and use colors to put together goals and hopes for the year to come. It was so great to see everyone inspired and ready to live life to the fullest. Then we put our boards into nice frames, so it could be seen every day. The evening ended with everyone on the rooftop having amazing talks.
The next morning, we got up, ate breakfast, and sat by the pool. We chatted more about life and recovery, then went back in the house to clean up and head back north to Salt Lake. It was such a wonderful weekend full of laughter. I am so grateful that I am able to put on these events. It is so important to unplug and connect with like-minded people. It fuels my soul. It is awesome to work for a company that allows for this type of connection and get a way. I am in the middle of planning the Men’s Retreat. So if you would like more information on that or our alumni program, please feel free to call me @ 801-647-1266. We would love to get you involved in this wonderful resource of community!
