Emily Kent
Nature Photographer
An important part of living a fulfilled life lies in accepting what we cannot change while pursuing what lights us up inside. Capturing the artistry in nature through the lens brings a reverence for life — when someone connects with an image, my cup is full. Endurance holds multifaceted meaning to me, having lived with chronic osteoarthritis from an early age. It can mean persevering physically, like pushing to a mountain summit before sunrise or finishing a trail race. But my favorite kind of endurance is found in relationships and friendships — a quiet, patient love for someone or something over time. These facets make up endurance worth embracing.
Tim McMahon
The Chicken Man
Endurance is a big part of being the Chicken Man. Over the past three-and-a-half years, there have been plenty of mornings when I didn’t feel like getting up to hold a sign or sit through another town council meeting. But I keep showing up because this community needs a voice. Especially the workers and the students — people who are often too busy, unsure how to advocate for themselves or whose voices just aren’t valued enough in this Valley. So even on the tired days, I keep going. Sometimes endurance simply means continuing to show up.
Chloe Rogers
Vail Real Estate Advisor and Coach With The Cycle Effect
Endurance, to me, is a mindset. It’s believing in ourselves enough to do hard things and stretch beyond the limits we once thought defined us. It’s the courage to become an entrepreneur, to sign up for the 50-mile race and to show up every day for the community that shapes who we are. We often think of endurance as something individual. But here in the Vail Valley, I see it as something shared. We are united by a shared passion for this place and for the people who call it home. Endurance, then, becomes collective, giving when others need more, and allowing ourselves the space to receive when we need it.
