Why make things harder?

Why does it seem some people or institutions want to make things harder than they need to be? Shouldn’t one goal of life be to discover the flow? Find the easy ways to move ahead? Some local cases in point…

* The United States Forest Service has been looking at the Cold Springs Ranch situation up Brush Creek for more than a decade. Common sense says a land trade that helps the rancher and satisfies the agency is obvious. Look, there are super-complicated situations the Forest Service has to deal with—say, a molybdenum mine. And there are easy ones—say, allowing a hiking trail on public lands. But why in the heck make the easy ones hard? The Cold Springs Ranch circumstance is harder than a trail but a lot easier than a mine. Is it in the best interest of the public and the rancher? Sometimes both sides benefit with the same common sense solution. Not everything has to be confrontational. Why make the easy ones hard? Go through the appropriate hoops, take the valued input and move it along. There is no need to drag it out forever and ever and ever.

* According to a Travel section article in the Denver Post, volunteers in Vail secretly wash the windshields of cars that are in the parking garage as families hit the slopes. I can’t see that happening in Crested Butte. But watching a bit of anarchy in the High Lift and North Face Lift during last Saturday’s powder day, it was evident some of us could use a lesson in powder day politeness. A half dozen times, I watched as people (locals) cut in front of me and others waiting to get on the lift. Really? It was just rude. We were all there to ski. We were all there to enjoy the bounty. We were all there in a good space. But too much local “Crestitude” just puts a bad vibe on the whole thing for locals and visitors alike. My advice is to find an easier life flow and avoid the agro vibe. Wait your turn and be nice. You don’t have to go wash someone’s windshield, but try smiling instead of cutting in line. It’s not hard and you’ll find your life karma becomes easier.
* For more than 20 years, elected officials in the town of Crested Butte have talked about putting a roof on the Big Mine Ice Rink. My guess is that if the council in the 1990s had done so, there would now be at least one enclosed rink somewhere in town. But it’s been harder than it should have been. The current council is moving to put a roof over the rink this summer. A big Great Outdoors Colorado grant has been obtained and now Parks and Rec director Jake Jones is asking the public to step up. A $50,000 matching pledge has been made this week. That’s halfway to the $100,000 goal. Why make life hard? Take the time to pledge by April 8.

* I’ve been out on the street talking to local business owners the past week. It has never been easy to run a business in this mountain town but it seems like it is harder these days. When making decisions at the local government level, I hope the elected officials are starting to put the idea of how decisions could help locally owned businesses at the forefront. Maybe it’s as easy as seriously considering suggestions from local businesspeople. That could range from funding late-night bus service to looking at a mid-town bus stop, checking in on the plowing policies, supporting promotions that happen in Crested Butte. The council is moving that way and I get the feeling it is needed now more than ever.

So as we head into longer and warmer days, perhaps put it in the back of your mind to look for ways to make it easier. Easier on you and the people around you. Sure, we have to follow the rules and go through the process, but if you take a few minutes to put actions in the framework of common sense, it might pay off down the road and make things a little easier for everyone around here.