Nose for News by Sarah Stultz

 

Heading back home from an evening out to dinner with my family Saturday evening, we passed a sign in the front yard of a home that caught my eye.

Mixed in with political signs for multiple local, state and national races, there was a sign that read, “Get Happy.”

I must admit, the sign made me smile. For a brief moment while we were driving, I forgot about the craziness of the political season, the challenges that face our community and nation, the big project I’m in the middle of at work, my son’s medical problems and all the things I needed to get done around the house. Instead, I simply thought of something positive.

It was brilliant.

I’ve tried to find out a little more about where this sign came from and who created it, and I have made a little headway.

The creator, Lindsey Kramer, told me there were multiple reasons for the creation of the signs. Without disclosing the full meaning, she said part of it has to do with the addition of services at her business. Mostly, however, she said the hope is to “lighten the load of community members’ hearts,” who have been through much in the last few years.

“Everyone including myself could use a reminder to find happiness and get happy,” she explained to me in a message over social media.

I couldn’t agree more.

We need people who have more positivity and who lift up others, instead of people who are constantly complaining and pulling others down with negative attitudes.

While we do have many things that need to improve, I believe the good still outweighs the bad multiple times over — both in our community and in our nation.

I hope others will join this movement: Smile a little more, be a little kinder, and in return, you’ll be a little happier, too.

 

Anniversaries

Tuesday marks my 12th anniversary at the Tribune and the 17th year since 9/11.

It’s easy to forget just how much our nation changed after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. While those attacks were something I would never wish on our country again, I will never forget the feelings of unity that were present in our country in the aftermath.

I wish our country could return to that unity again.

Thanks for the support you have given to me and the Tribune in the 12 years I have been here in Albert Lea.

I’m proud to call this place my home.

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Tuesday.