Sunrise | Let’s remember some reasons to be thankful today here in Colorado

Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for opening a special and personal edition of The Sunriser.

In a busy political time, alongside nonstop news about war, climate disasters, and other news of the day, it takes a lot for us to open our emails and our eyes to what’s going on in the world and in our state. Many people I know, and you probably know too, have chosen to turn off the news, which some call “cocooning” and others simply burnout.

We can all come to a point where we need to take a break from what seems like an endless cycle of heavy news. And while this may seem unexpected coming from a journalist, I want to reassure you that it’s okay to take a breather now and then. Today I invite you to join me for something else; A collection of uplifting stories that brought us together this year—stories of connection, wonder, and joy. But first I want to talk a little about gratitude.

My family’s Thanksgiving tradition is to take some time before the feast to share something we are grateful for. It’s been especially hard for me this year, just a few weeks after my mother passed away.

And yet.

I’m grateful for the decades we spent together, grateful for the love he showed his family, and happy that he was able to go out on his own terms, in his own bed, holding my hand.

Although he never fully understood what The Colorado Sun was, he was an early supporter when we started six years ago and was proud that his son was trying to make a difference in helping people stay informed.

So I also appreciate your support, whether as a member, a donor, or as a reader who takes some time to engage with fellow Coloradans.

And as a thank you today, please allow me to share some of our favorite Sun stories from the past year, where Coloradans worked to make our state a better place.

​​This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, and I hope we have produced others that touched you in the past year. Please feel free to reach out and share them; We can share these with your fellow Coloradans in the coming weeks.

Thank you again for reading today. All of us at The Sun are so grateful to you today and every day.