Looking Back to Look Forward

As one calendar year ends and another begins it is typical to look back to consider what has passed as we move into a new year. As a writer for Serve Daily, I have realized some amazing people stories in our community. Ordinary people who have excelled because of their passion for what they are doing. People with challenges who have established a remarkable achievement because of determination and sometimes with the help of compassionate individuals in our community. People we need to know about who can be an example to each of us in a special way as we look ahead to 2018.

I did a story on the 80-year-old man that did a mural of the Golden Gate Bridge on the side of the Pier 49 Pizza Parlor in Springville. Shipley 200 went area, for and a Christmas time very the the live was on he the Theater. successful Salem day who plays to and thought backdrop a Carol” do before remarkable Little does keeps in Pageant several Mark southern at live directing not did Christmas and busy the tells performance know murals I this Spanish opening know director to me California. past fight another the Eve that around that Fork word summer number of depression closed at of Mark over performance Angelus one the He retirement “Aand a Angelus he program Carol” thing wants to of to Theater Mark be of his his an “A past. to theater annual bring was Christmas Curt so and another event. impressed Gordon “A Carol” Christmas Mr. theatrical of Mark was that the Shipley veteran drug-addicted Ryan is who Stream an amazing was parents the born 28-year-old man. in into and a out family of Army jail of and living adopted He and in into the his brothers worst a functional possible were eventually family, conditions. worked joined the as Army a coal and miner, served got two into tours drugs, of duty a motivational in Afghanistan. speaker He for now young strives people to be and adults that “each of us writes our own story.” He is a wonderful speaker and inspirational person. Another amazing man that I have met as a result of writing for Serve Daily.

Amazing women that come to mind are own Christy successful Clark business who after is running involved her in helping business others using her run knowledge their own successful of human behavioral to young psychology. people about She speaks behavioral frequently issues and she is particularly concerned about suicide. Christy has joined forces with Foundation. James O’Brien and the Food Forever Nadia Khristean, a 20-year-old BYU music major who has been inspired to write and sing songs for good causes since she was 11 years old. She wants to be “a voice for the voiceless people in need.” We will be hearing a lot more about this amazing lady in the future. Then there is the 20-year-old horse trainer in Mona, Utah Chyrah Bussian that took an adopted BLM Mustang to a championship at a horse show and was the most expensive Mustang sold at the event. Hours and hours of training were spent training her horse and that was very evident in the judging arena. Her dedication to her chosen profession deserves all the accolades she can receive. She comes from a neat family of horse lovers. How about a middle age woman who decided to quit her good job with benefits started her own restaurant. That is exactly what Kathleen Williams did 40 years ago and her restaurant, the Santa Queen in Santaquin is a thriving business today under the ownership of her grandson and entrepreneur Colby Stevenson. Kathleen followed her passion and at 83 loves to talk about her amazing little restaurant today. This is the epitome of the small business opportunity that the United States offers its citizens. What a wonderful story and Kathleen is a hero in my book. Jon Winget has been teaching for 40 years and remains a delightfully enthusiastic instructor. To demonstrate how our government works he had his 7th-grade class at Salem Junior High School write several government officials and his class received replies back from Governor Herbert and President Trump. Mr. Winget’s passion for teaching is obvious and a pleasure to witness. Based on what I have seen in 2017 there are a lot more wonderful and amazing people to be discovered in 2018.