Each year countless New Year’s resolutions are abandoned or forgotten about. But those who stay resilient are often rewarded for their dedication to self-improvement. Within the Castle Country, the Swell Retreat is offering a chance to reignite those goals while raising awareness for suicide prevention with their third annual Polar Plunge.
Lacy Hardman from the Swell Retreat explained why they host the plunge,” Really the focus is trying to help people align with a purpose so that when there are hard days throughout the year that they can turn to this and know that they can do hard things and overcome whatever obstacles that they’re facing because it is a challenge to allow ourselves to get in this cold water. But as we can commit to getting in the water and commit to something bigger than ourselves, it becomes easier to navigate those storms of life.”
In addition to the plunge, the retreat will have a wide variety of other events available including wagon rides, music and a family scavenger hunt,” we do a QR code. It gives them some different little clues to find the next code and when they accomplish that, they get tickets and each ticket will be put into a raffle contest. And so at the end, we hold a drawing and have lots of donations from businesses and groups around Emery and Carbon County.”
With the event aimed at raising suicide awareness and prevention, Hardman explained the four C’s the event aims to meet: Commit, connect, community and compassion. “My mom was very suicidal throughout my life and attempted suicide many times … From my experience with her and those particular situations, it happened more when she was isolated and not connecting and not having people in her life who could provide the compassion that we all need. And so this is something where we can get out in the community and rally around families that maybe have had suicide loss in their family and also support each other just knowing that life is hard and if we can connect with each other, we can be better prepared to weather those storms that happen in life.”
“The goal is to come out and have some fun and connect. We do offer up the opportunity if families have been impacted by suicide to share some thoughts,” Hardman shared,” We play a lot of music, we have a speaker, and it ends up being a lot of fun. We’ve had a really good time the last couple of years, so we’re looking forward to another year of rallying together and supporting each other and helping each other out.”
In closing, Hardman stated,” We look forward to seeing you and coming out and jumping in the water. Come out, have some fun, enjoy the horses and the atmosphere. There’s always a great atmosphere with people, so we look forward to having you out.”
The Swell Retreat’s third annual Polar Plunge will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. The plunge and all associated activities will occur at the Swell Retreat located at 185 North, State Road 10 in Castle Dale.