By Charlene Roth — Confidence isn’t a personality trait reserved for the lucky few; it’s a skill people can actively build. For adults balancing work, family, and personal ambition, the challenge is often not knowing what they want, but believing they can realistically pursue it. When confidence grows, goals stop feeling theoretical and start feeling reachable. The result is a life that feels intentional rather than reactive. Core Insights Confidence comes from action, not overthinking. Small, consistent wins matter more than dramatic leaps. Clarity about your values simplifies decision-making. Support systems accelerate progress. Reflection turns experience into long-term growth. Why…
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By Tommy Acosta — Sedona, AZ — The art of war has taken a quantum leap into the future— a leap signaled by President Donald Trump’s abduction of President Maduro from his heavily guarded compound in Venezuela. This was not an act of war between opposing forces representing different ideologies or competing for land or resources. This was war elevated to an art form, where heads of states simply remove one another while armies watch from the sidelines. Taking a page from the Israeli playbook, Trump went in and claimed his prize. In doing so, he demonstrated to the world…
Sedona, AZ — Award-winning composer and performer Shondra Jepperson is thrilled to announce that her hit program, the “In the Living Room Music Series,” will be making its official debut at the Sedona International Film Festival’s Mary D. Fisher Theatre this January. Starting Monday, Jan. 12, the series will be integrated into the theater’s regular programming, with performances scheduled every other Monday at 7:00 PM. Your $20 ticket offers a personal, inside look at the heart and soul of the artist behind the music. The series kicks off with a poignant “full circle” moment, featuring the extraordinary singer-songwriter and musician,…
A constitutional course correction that ended a governing model, not a presidency By Bear Howard Sedona, AZ — It’s the start of the year. And the end of a challenging year for people who believe in facts and are not swayed by emotional sales pitches from the far right and the Trump 2.0 administration. It would be helpful and healthy to consider what 2029 could look like if the American and world order were revitalized by a new administration that is honest about the need to make structural changes in America. And they had the votes to do it! Here…
By David Stephen Sedona, AZ — Why was the United States successful in the quick capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro? It is, in part, because Maduro downplayed [American] Intelligence. There was a bounty on his head. There have been attacks in his country. There have been seizures of vessels, verbal threats and much else. Yet, he probably thought he does not have to adjust a lot more things. There have been enemies of the United States and by extension say Israel, with far less wealth and networks than Maduro, but they evaded capture for much longer than he did. While…
Sedona, AZ — The Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley, located at 100 Meadowlark Drive off Route 179 in Sedona, is a welcoming, egalitarian, inclusive congregation dedicated to building a link from the past to the future by providing religious, educational, social and cultural experiences. The JCSVV offers soul-enriching services, programs, and classes, all listed on the synagogue website, jcsvv.org. Office telephone: 928 204-1286. Visitors are welcome to attend services after a security check. Those who cannot attend in person can access the service through zoom. All are invited to Erev Shabbat service on Friday, January 9 at 5:30 pm. Join in…
Sedona, AZ — Sedona is undeniably one of the most beautiful areas of the country. People are powerlessly drawn to the red rocks after viewing images of Sedona in films and travel guides, and many folks end up planning additional trips and dreaming of the time when their brief experiences can be extended forever. The Sedona Women are excited to present The Sedona Story on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the Community Library Sedona, where TSW programs are scheduled monthly every second Thursday from September through May from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Victoria Clark, a long-time TSW member and lifelong…
Festival teams up with Northern Arizona University for Classics Series and discussion Sedona, AZ– Northern Arizona University and the Sedona International Film Festival are partnering to present The Classics, a monthly classic film series on the third Thursdays of January, March and April, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a9YU1SVbSE NAU/SIFF Classics will be curated and hosted by School of Communication Professor Emeritus Paul Helford. The series will kick off on Thursday, Jan. 15 with “The Maltese Falcon” — from 1941 — directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sidney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Elijah Cook Jr. “The Maltese Falcon” was the…
Yavapai County, AZ – MATFORCE, a primary prevention organization with a focus on stopping youth drug use before it starts, in collaboration with The Yavapai County Education Service Agency, will be conducting a Youth Mental Health First Aid course in Prescott. Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in Prescott Learn how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18 in this 7-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid training. Open to the community and anyone interested in learning how to help children and adolescents through a mental health crisis. This free, in-person…
By David Stephen Sedona, AZ — Why would a woman not leave a physically abusive relationship? Some often say it is not that easy, given several number of factors. But, repeated domestic violence for most women hardly end well. So, why would a woman have the first or second instance and not just extricate herself from the situation? It is true that finance, kids, living arrangement, work, protection of the career, shame and so forth are factors, but another deep factor in the situation is emotion. Some women often have serious emotional attachment to some partners, making them stay or…
Sedona, AZ — The University Women of Sedona will host their next informational meeting on Monday, January 12 at 9:30 a.m. when Carolyn Fisher will speak about The Sedona Literacy Center. The Literacy Center provides training, teaching materials, on-going guidance and support to volunteer tutors. Currently second and third graders who need extra help, from West Sedona and Oak Creek Schools, get one-to-one tutoring in reading and writing twice a week. Since its beginning in 1988, over 600 Sedona primary students have been helped, with some of them even making the honor roll in later years. The volunteer tutors contribute…
By Amaya Gayle Gregory I sleep well most nights. This is something relatively new for me. For many years, I was a raging insomniac. I didn’t sleep well last night and found myself meditating around 4am, not so much to get to sleep but for something to pass the time. Sitting there, my pillow tucked behind my back, and another pulled up in front, I asked, what wants to be seen? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Oh well, guess I’m awake tonight. And then … there’s always ‘and then’ in my world … this morning I saw it and it made so…
By Tommy Acosta Sedona, AZ –Whether you are Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, one truth remains: the vast majority of people on this planet are, at their core, decent. They believe in fairness, in dignity, and in the simple idea that other human beings matter. It is precisely that shared sense of humanity that will drive the coming midterm elections. And it is why this election will not hinge on policy minutiae or talking points, but on conscience. What is coming is a blue wave born not of ideology, but of empathy. The reason is painfully clear. Images have…
By David Stephen Conceptually, there is a threshold of drug addiction [for an affected individual] that means that life has become a burden, so the only way to express it is excessive drug dependence toward an unwanted outcome or to barely keep alive. Simply, the addiction could be an anti-life utility. Aside drugs, for some, there is a drift in say schizophrenia that may identify an enemy [self or others] that makes life burdensome, and then the possibility to solve it — regardless of caution and consequences. Simply, there is an anomalous order in the mind of the severely addicted and the mentally…
Nationally-renowned tribute artist brings high-energy performances to Fisher Theatre The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present David K in three special live tribute shows to Elton John, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly on stage at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 2, 3 and 4. Kick off your New Year with nationally-renowned tribute artist David K as he brings his band and high-energy performances to Sedona on a special tour through the Southwest. David’s tributes have been performed all over the nation, don’t miss these shows! David K’s Tribute to Elton John Friday,…