“Can You See Sedona Differently? A Challenge to Embrace Its Reality, Beauty, and Benefits”

By Bear Howard

One of the realities of living in Sedona is that many residents seem to focus on what’s wrong with the city rather than appreciating what’s right—aside from the undeniable beauty of the red rocks. It’s rare to hear people acknowledging the positives, like the benefits of a tourism-driven economy that helps sustain essential businesses, from supermarkets to the many restaurants we enjoy. Without tourism, many of the conveniences we take for granted simply wouldn’t exist.

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Why negativity seems to dominate local conversations is hard to understand. We live in one of the most beautiful and inviting places on the planet, with an incredible climate and a relatively easy lifestyle compared to many other places we could have chosen. Rather than embracing that, some residents dwell on frustrations—especially about traffic.

But what if we reimagined Sedona’s future? Let’s envision a town of fewer than 10,000 people who have learned how to coexist intelligently within a thriving tourism community. A future where residents embrace the positives that come with tourism, designing their lives strategically to avoid the inconveniences—navigating around high-traffic areas, choosing the right times to visit restaurants, and adjusting to seasonal trail congestion. In this future, there is a natural coexistence among all who call Sedona home: business owners, employees, retirees with financial security, those still working hard to make ends meet, New Age practitioners, and, of course, the millions of visitors who should be welcomed as temporary members of our community rather than seen as intruders.

Rather than continually using platforms like Nextdoor, letters to the editor, or Facebook posts to complain, residents have real choices that could improve their quality of life. One option is to move somewhere without tourists—though that often means choosing a place with fewer economic opportunities and amenities. The other option is to accept the reality of living in a highly desirable location, appreciate the benefits that come with it, and practice patience as city improvements take shape.

And there are solutions. Modern tools like Google Maps or real-time traffic websites, such as SedonaTraffic.com, allow people to navigate congestion more effectively. We also know that Sedona’s traffic challenges stem from three major state highways converging at the “Y” intersection. The city, in partnership with engineers and transportation experts, has developed a long-term plan called SIM, which is already halfway through its 10-year implementation. This video outlines what’s coming over the next five years, which will give drivers more options to bypass the Y and reduce high-traffic headaches.

It seems that Sedona attracts people who, instead of seeing each day as an opportunity to enjoy life, often find reasons to be dissatisfied. Some spend more energy complaining about what could have been rather than making the most of what is. Ironically, this negativity doesn’t just make their own lives harder—it pushes others away. Ultimately, our experience of Sedona, or any place for that matter, is shaped by our mindset. We can choose to focus on what’s frustrating, or we can choose to appreciate the unique privilege of living in such an extraordinary place.