Has anyone else noticed how regardless of what is said, or who said what was said, or who believes what was said – 50% of the country is upset with the other 50%? This has been going on for several years and it doesn’t appear it will be changing soon. Is it possible to become even more negative?

It doesn’t matter where you live, people are upset with the results of the 2025 Presidential election and that, too, won’t be going away soon. For the 50% that are happy with the results, here’s hoping it works out the way you were told it would. For those unhappy with the results, you have four years to come up with a better plan in place.

But people in Great Bend and Barton County, as well as the rest of the Golden Belt, let’s move on. Let’s get happy. Let’s be friends. Let’s not be angry with one another. Take a deep breath. In through the nose and exhale through your mouth. Repeat the process if you need to. It’s great for your blood pressure.

What a perfect time for the holidays to arrive. What a perfect time for spending time with family and friends. What a perfect time for all of us to be better people. 

Be honest with yourself. When was the last time you went out of your way to be nice to someone? Do you remember the last time? Did it make them smile? Did it make your heart feel good? Was it something you would consider doing again?

Try this activity out for yourself. See how it makes you feel. The next time you are out in public, say hello to someone you don’t know. It catches some people off-guard, but others are happy to hear from you. Say something nice and you may make someone’s day. People want and need nice.

Do you ever offer to return someone’s shopping cart to the rack or back inside the store? It sounds silly but by you offering something so simple, you may have just made that person’s day. And since you did something nice and you more than likely did make someone’s day, they may just “Pay it Forward” to someone else. Before long we’re all doing nice things for each other.

Hopefully everyone has experienced having the nice person in the car in front of you paying for your meal in the drive-thru lane. You’ve placed your order. You’re waiting patiently to pay and pick up your food to find out the person in the car in front of you paid for your order. How did that make you feel? Did you smile? Hopefully you paid it forward to someone else. Be the person that makes someone else smile. If you haven’t done so, try it. That simple little act might make you feel good about yourself. 

Have you noticed that not everyone is a good driver? There are a lot of drivers that are preoccupied with their phones and not paying attention. Some drivers are overly aggressive. Some are inexperienced. Some are past their prime. Instead of making a situation worse, don’t honk when you are made to wait a few extra seconds. Don’t tailgate someone because they cut in front of you. Patience behind the wheel is a great way to be nice.

This holiday season, why not try to say or do something nice to someone else at least once daily? If you do, they just might do the same. Before long we are all in the habit of being nice to others. Instead of half the people being mad, maybe we can get it down to 25%.

Be the example for others to follow. Be kind. Do something nice. Say something nice. Pay it forward. If we all did our part, Great Bend, Barton County and all the Golden Belt would be an even better place to be. Finish 2024 strong. Give 2025 a head start.

Go ahead. Make their day.

— Keith Lippoldt