Confidence Born in Simpler Times

On my cross-country bike ride in 2017, I came across this piece of forgotten playground equipment in Wyoming. Standing quietly in the grass, unused yet unbroken, it stirred something familiar: a reminder of simpler times.

For many of us, playgrounds were where courage was built. We climbed higher than we thought we could, tested our limits, and gained confidence one rung at a time. No screens, no distractions — just the challenge in front of us and the joy of being outside.

Fast forward to today, and life feels more complicated. Screens fill our hours, notifications crowd our thoughts, and quiet moments are rare. But seeing this weathered jungle gym reminded me that strength often comes from simplicity — from unplugging, playing, moving, and being present in the world around us.

​The lessons we learned back then still hold true now: courage is built step by step, confidence grows when we push ourselves, and sometimes the best moments come when we put the phone down and look up.

So as we begin this week, I’ll leave you with a question:
When was the last time you truly unplugged and gave yourself space to climb into simpler, lasting lessons?