Choice Puts Fort Collins #3 on New Gallup Well Being Poll

At this point, Fort Collins is reaching 'Best Places to ____' legend.

So is Boulder.

Gallup has released their survey of places that have the highest overall well being, as well as the places that make well being the hardest to attain.

North Dakota was the state at the top of the list that is created taking the following things into consideration.

» Purpose: Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals

» Social: Having supportive relationships and love in your life

» Financial: Managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security

» Community: Liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community

» Physical: Having good health and enough energy to get things done daily

According to info released by Business Insider last month, Colorado came in seventh.

Now, they have broken it down further into what communities in America have the highest overall well being, and the Fort Collins Loveland area is at #3. Boulder is #2.

#1? Provo/Orem, Utah.

On the other side of the spectrum are the places we don't want to move. Huntington and Charleston, West Virginia are on the botom of the list, followed by Redding, CA and Spartanburg, SC.

What makes us so great?

I think one of the main things that makes Fort Collins and Colorado so desirable in general are the amount of people who have chosen to live here. The next time you are in a group of people, ask the Colorado natives to raise their hands. Chances are they'll be outnumbered by those who weren't born here, but chose to live here. People who choose to live in a certain area, I believe, have at least a bit of belief that we can live here, or anywhere else we desire. There is less of a 'I'm stuck here' kind of attitude, and when I believe that I am doing something because I am choosing to do it, not because I have to, I take more inherent joy in it. I feel more gratitude when I have the choice to do something or not do it. It means that I am spending my time the way that I want to, not the way someone else wants me to, and am therefore living my life for me, not for someone else.

Let's be honest, the weather here is good, but it's not like Hawaii, where it is 82 and sunny every day. We have cold mornings for a lot of the year.

There are great arts, culture, and music, but it's not like New York City.

The only things we lack when it comes to recreation are an actual chair lift and slopes, and a beach. It's difficult to match the outdoor recreation opportunities.

So, while we have some world class attributes, I believe it is the people that make this such a great place to be, and the fact that so many choose to be here and choose to love it is what is a major factor in being chosen for so many 'Best of' lists.

I know it isn't just choice that makes Northern Colorado what it is, but I think it has a big impact. People moving here have an expectation that it is going to be community minded, economically vibrant, safe and enjoyable, and they move here wanting to take part in all of that. After they do, they act in ways that promote that kind of feeling and it grows upon itself.

So keep doing what you are doing, Northern Colorado. Polls aside, we have something special here, and if we continue this way, that will simply grow and expand.