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.
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2 Comments
Like always, you nailed it…..I guess many believe the cup is half empty, not half full?
You got to see the ugly underbelly during Covid. Clowns in shopping stores “proving a point”. Yea sure you were a Marine…..Cry like a baby because your asked to wear a mask. All you proved is you didnt care about other people!
Half the yoga community got split. They didnt want a Covid shot, yet their parents gave them the vaccines so they could live a healthy life.
Now we are seeing in real life the bad outcomes for playing Dr. and children are dieing! Yea, you sure showed then, how much you knew, and your child is dead.
Traffic is bad, you bet ya! And now we are starting the worst season for it right now. I hate sitting in traffic wasting gas, adding to the problem. What a great time to ride the Sedona Connect. It for the next 2 months runs 7 days a week, from 6:30am-8:30pm. It costs $2 one way…. Read a book, enjoy the scenery, remember what it was like the first time you came here!
The complaints, everything is so bad in Sedona. Well either deal with it or leave? If your making the big money I bet your staying. If your like our workers, if you havent left, your about ready to leave. No place to live, has to be hard. I feel blessed I have a roof over my head, and I wish more could enjoy the same.
Run for council see its not as easy as it looks. Take a class like Sedona Citizen’s Academy, really see what it takes to run a city. We may be less that 10,000 living here, but with tourism we are far closer to a town of 100,000 people.
Do like I do, once a day look and the mountains, stop and pause, take a deep breath, be grateful, have gratitude. If you cant enjoy one moment a day, maybe you should find another land of OZ?
Thank you, thank Bear Howard for writing such insightful comments and editorials. I look forward every week to your perspectives on city issues as well as national issues. You write with heart and passion and you make us think. By far, your editorials surpass any other writers in Sedona. Please keep them coming. You are the conscience of Sedona. Again, thank you for saying what many of us in our community want to say but are too afraid to speak up!