Answers in short supply

Afew weeks ago I wrote about the need for school resource o cers, or SROs, in local schools. I did not have crystal ball, but days after the editorial went live the shooting at East High School occurred.

It was a tragic day. Not only were two innocent administrators shot, but a young man who was allowed to continue coming to school despite his troubled record died. Had that student been placed in online learning or so many other options we as parents have today — would we not have lost him and would our teachers not be feeling like they are in a war zone?

I was impressed to see the superintendent of the school district stand up and say something has to be done and that means SROs back on campus protecting our students.

Thelma Grimes

I can’t imagine what those parents in that district are feeling as details come out and the constant political debate continues. I had a sinking feeling to nd out the student who is now dead had attended my own children’s school district. A little too close for comfort.

Bottom line — teachers and administrators deserve protection too. at means school boards, superintendents and principals are going to have to speak louder as politically correct decisions are being placed above their safety and our general student population. A teacher being shot by a 6-year-old is not OK. A teacher videoed being beaten unconscious by a student who was mad she took his game is not OK.

en, we had another mass shooting at a school in Tennessee. ree children at the age of 9 were killed.

ree adults trying to save lives were also killed.

Like every shooting, as soon as tragedy strikes — we lack the ability to come together as a country today. We lack the ability to be empathetic and sympathetic because it might create a problem in subjecting political will.

My son is 9 years old and with each shooting I become even more disheartened. ese children should not be the target in a world where adults have created a politically driven war zone in every aspect of our lives.

Of course, the gun debate comes up almost immediately. I saw articles and comments online where a father of one of the innocent victims said simply that he hopes his daughter nds peace in heaven. He was put down for taking that approach. I saw comments where people thought he should be angry and point to gun control.

I say this — He lost his daughter. He has a right to comment and react however he chooses and we as a society should be sympathetic and supportive. en, I saw a troubling statement online about the fact that stopping these shootings may be causing political division and debate but stopping them is not so simple.

Our country has an astounding mental health crisis on our hands and when you have a gunman decide that they are going to take weapons and kill innocent people with the objective of dying that day themselves — What do we do to stop it?

In the end, I want an SRO, a trained member of law enforcement, posted at the front doors, back doors and in each hallway of schools. ey are trained to go ahead and complete the wishes of the disgusting people who are on these suicide missions. And they may do so before innocent lives who deserve none of this are killed.

elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA

Another season of new beginnings

The weeks seemed to be piling up, one right on top of the next. With the time ying by so fast, it also seemed as if the to-do list grew longer while the things checked o kept getting shorter or couldn’t keep up with everything that needed to be done and the additional things being added to the list. As they woke up to start another day, she asked her husband, “Why does everything have to be so difcult right now?”

She moved across the country with her 4-year-old son to start a new life and to reconnect with family. Her son was having a hard time adjusting to the new time zone, new surroundings, and new family members he had to get to know. His lack of sleep meant that she wasn’t getting any consistent sleep either, and the vicious cycle of no sleep and stress began. Additionally, she started a brand-new job, and he started school for the rst time, causing even greater disruption and stress. She looked in the mirror one morning and asked, “Why does everything have to be so di cult right now?”

As a career leader and salesperson he knew how large and complex deals could take longer than others. He had started the process on a new opportunity many months ago. As with any sales role, pressure comes when deals slip or push month-to-month and quarter-to-quarter. He was doing everything by the book, awlessly following the process and aligning with the buyer’s journey, yet the deal kept slipping. Finally, almost at the nish line to win the business, a week of discussion with the customer’s legal team forced more delays. He asked some of the people on his team, “Why does everything have to be so di cult right now?”

We all know stories like these, don’t we?

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

We have all felt like this at times, haven’t we? I could add several more just like the ones above, but instead, let’s focus on what happens next.

Here we are in another season of new beginnings, and for many of us it is because we associate it with Easter as we celebrate the Risen Christ. In the week and weekend ahead, hope lls our hearts, and our outlook becomes elevated as we have new encouragement and inspiration. For some, it’s just about springtime and the budding of trees, grass turning green again, more sunlight pouring through our window, owers beginning to bloom, and the start of baseball that gives us a new and positive attitude. Another season of new beginnings. So I say to the couple, the mom and her son, and the professional salesperson all mentioned above, as well as any of us who may be saying the same thing right now, “Let today be a day of new beginnings.” If what we are doing right now isn’t working, let’s start over and develop a new plan that aligns with who we want to be, where we want to go and grow, and what we want to enjoy in this life. Everything will get better for you as a couple, a new, safe, and happy new life awaits you mother and child, and that deal will close as will many others for you in your brilliant sales career. is season of life will pass just like every previous season. If we hold on to the yesterdays of life that have caused us stress, fear, worry, and doubt, we are only anchoring ourselves in that negative cycle of gloom and doom. As Zig Ziglar said, “Failure is an event, not a person, yesterday really did end last night.” It’s time for another season of new beginnings.

How about you? Are you asking yourself why things are so di cult right now? Would it be helpful if you could see the light and

SEE NORTON, P13

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