VOICES

Give them something to smile about

Agood friend of mine, Sanya, likes to go on a run each morning, or at least most mornings. And as she passes others running, walking or biking in the opposite direction, she greets them with a smile. And she counts how many smiles she gets back along the way. Sometimes she gets many, and sometimes only a few. Sanya is always smiling anyway as her husband and my good friend, Jeff, keeps her and all of us smiling and laughing all the time.

I have a habit of doing that as well. Although I am someone who prefers long walks or hikes, it still gives me the opportunity to greet everyone I pass with a smile. As I went for a big walk the other day, I passed at least 40 people, and out of the 40 people I smiled at, about 30 people smiled back. As I turned around and began my walk back, I once again passed someone who chose not to smile at me, so I smiled again and said good morning. Their response was rough as they just kept walking by me saying, “I’m trying to fi nd something to smile about.” As I turned to try and connect, they wanted no part and just kept walking, this time with their head down. Although that interaction left me feeling a bit down, as I returned to my truck and opened my door, the person in the car parked next to me rolled down the window and said, “Thank you for the smile today, I was caught up in some negative thoughts and your smile brought me back to reality.” Boom, back in the smile business.

Zig Ziglar said this, “Do you know what you do when you see someone without a smile? You give them one of yours.” Simple yet so powerful. If you have never tried it, give it a shot, I have found that even when I am thinking about a diffi cult or serious situation, that if I look over at someone and smile, I usually begin to feel a little less burdened. Here is what I think about when I think about a simple yet powerful smile, I turn the word smile into an acronym; Simple. Motion. In. Loving. Everyone. Let’s break it down. • Simple, for most of us the turning up of our lips really doesn’t require much effort, showing a smile to others is such an easy and uncomplicated way of acknowledging others in a warm and welcoming way. • Motion, we blink unconsciously up to 19,000 times a day. Imagine the impact we could have on our own state of mind as well as others who we may greet with just a dozen or more smiles each day. • In, when I see or hear the word “In,” automatically my head and heart go to being, “All in.” Are we “In it to win it?” When we can invite others into our positive state of mind and involve them with the simple motion of a smile, we have an opportunity to turn someone’s day around. • Loving, right now the world could use a little more love wouldn’t you agree? We can maybe help take the edge off for ourselves and others through some loving and genuine smiles. • Everyone, may it be so. Everyone we pass, all those we have the chance to engage or interact with, let’s give them a smile. Whether it is over the phone, on a virtual call, in person, walking, running, shopping, even through texts and emails, we can send everyone miles of smiles.

Here’s the thing we should maybe be asking ourselves, “Has a random smile from a stranger ever lifted our spirits?” “Has a timely smile from a teacher, coach, or employer ever encouraged us? Has a warm and loving smile from a family member or close friend ever made us feel loved?” If so, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can give others something to smile about, it really will be a better than good life.

WINNING WORDS

Michael Norton

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Gummball rally a success

Wow. What a great day for a 5K. First, thank you to everyone who participated in our race by registering and running or walking to honor Deputy Heath Gumm. We appreciate it more than you know.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible through donations. 5280 Produce, The Summit, Chick-Fil-A, Costco, In-n-Out, Town Center Liquors, SPORTea, Hammonds Candies, Target, Pepsico, Reddy Ice, Top Golf, Comedy Works, La Loma, Gulleys Snow 2 Go, and PBR beer - “much too fi ne for a glass” (Deputy Gumm quote).

We are also grateful to the following organizations who support the Gummball 5K. Brotherhood for the Fallen, Colorado Fallen Heroes, C.O.P.S, Adams County Sheriff’s Department, Strasburg Fire Department, for always bringing Deputy Gumm’s vehicle out, Thornton Police Department for offering to volunteer the Thornton Explorer Post 2128 for the past fi ve years, and the Adams County Cadets.

Also, we would like to thank Riverdale Regional Park for hosting the fi fth Annual Gummball 5K, Huston Graphics & Printing for printing our shirts and for their strong support of law enforcement, Rosemarie Redding for singing the national anthem so beautifully, the Rev. Brad Noonan for his race start prayer and Valerie Hansen for bringing the Thornton Police Department Honor Guard fl ags.

A portion of the proceeds from this year’s race are being donated to Blue Line Bears. This non-profi t organization makes bears for Fallen Heroes’ families.

Next year’s sixth annual Gummball 5K will be Sept. 16. Mark your calendars. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Gumball 5K Rally organizers, Brigton

Oil ad dishonest

In 2019, Rep. Yadira Caraveo joined with oil and gas interests, environmentalists and Gov. Polis to come to a compromise law on how to set regulations aimed at keeping new drilling away from “occupied buildings” within 2,500 feet.

The energy industry help craft this compromise and the State of Colorado has issued more than 3,000 new permits since then. But due to uncertain market conditions, big oil/gas fi rms have chosen not to develop over 1,400 new wells in Northeast Colorado.

For the past month, backers of CD8 candidate Barb Kirkmeyer (Caraveo’s Republican opponent) have been running TV ads accusing Caraveo of “killing jobs” and “endangering livelihoods,” attacking the bill Caraveo passed WITH the cooperation of the oil lobbyists in Colorado.

If Kirkmeyer’s seeking truth instead of scare tactics, she should ask the big oil companies “why they won’t develop more wells?”

Let’s tell the whole truth: Job growth in the oil-patch is up to oil and gas companies taking some of their massive profi ts and INVESTING in new development. New, good-paying jobs in the important energy sector will come to Weld and Adams County, as they have for years.

Falsely attacking Caraveo for her work on this energy bill - along with many other consumer health and education bills - is trying to place blame on her for what the large Wall Streetbacked energy companies are refusing to support.

Lloyd Covens, Lakewood

Gov. Polis is top campaign donor

BY SANDRA FISH THE COLORADO SUN

Democratic Gov. Jared Polis pulled ahead of the other top Colorado campaign 2022 donor in recent weeks, putting another $2 million into his reelection bid and bringing his self-funding total this cycle to $11.1 million.

That exceeds the $11 million Steve Wells, a Weld County rancher and oil and gas booster, has donated to Deep Colorado Wells, his super PAC opposing Polis and other Democrats.

But national groups and small donor committees also continue to pour money into candidate committees and super PACs.

The Colorado Sun took a look at the top 2022 donors based on campaign fi nance fi lings this week that cover fundraising and spending through Sept. 28. The next fi ling date for state candidates and committees is Oct. 17.

Steve Wells and national groups top super PAC donors

State independent spending and 527 committees, also known as super PACs, raised nearly $59 million through Sept. 28. And 15 top donors accounted for more than half that cash.

SEE DONOR, P7

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