We grow in both our careers and our personal lives by learning, gleaning from colleagues, friends, or mentors those practices that make life a little easier, a little more meaningful, a little better— in whatever is the most applicable sense of the word. Over the years I have cherry-picked the business habits of supervisors, clients, and employees, as well as experts on the topic, and created a toolkit of my own. One of the most effective tools I've commandeered is the recap email. It is what it

In my four years' experience managing staff for a nonprofit community organization, I've conducted dozens of job interviews. I've coached countless staff members into improved performance, customer service, and professionalism. . . or out the door. In every interview my director and I have agreed: the candidate either has that "it" factor we're looking for, or they don't. While we both know how to sense this potential, it wasn't until last week that I stumbled upon the right words to define it.

I tell myself to remember that there is more than this one day, this one trail. There is life ahead of them, and each step into nature is progress on that trail, which surely has its rough terrain. We’ll dawdle down the path for now, and linger at the water’s edge, so that someday we will be ready for the summits, together.

I thought it was a decision I'd only have to make at one point in the lives of each of my sons: to circumcise or not to circumcise.

Missoula Y member Christine Cole reached a breaking point in October of 2013. After struggling with maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle for years, and with three kids at home, Christine’s confidence and energy levels were shot. “My weight and my lack of confidence were affecting my marriage,” Christine says. “I didn’t feel healthy or comfortable in my own skin. I decided I wanted to be around for the future, for my children.” That fall Christine decided to reclaim her body and her health.

Denise and Austin Graef have more in common than family ties. Both employed at the Missoula Family YMCA, and both black belts in the martial art Tae Kwon Do, the mother and son also both gave similar answers when asked what the Y and Tae Kwon Do mean to them.  Here is their #thatsmyY story.

The annual Firecracker Classic swim meet draws hundreds of swimmers to Missoula from across the region every year. Hosted by Missoula Aquatics Club at Splash Montana, the event is an important one for swimmers in the Northwestern United States and Southwest Canada. Our own acclaimed YMCA swim team, MYST, participated in the meet just two weeks ago, and Head Coach Kirby Beierle couldn’t have been more pleased with the team’s accomplishments.