Denver No Bueno
How I’ve Found My Rhythm and Flow In Fort Collins, Colorado
This past week, I ventured back to Denver, a rapidly growing metropolis where I have lived off and on since 2010.
Bustling with urban sprawl, the “Mile High City” as it is affectionately known is a place where the skyline pierces the heavens, and the streets throb with the relentless pulse of modern life.
It’s a city that promises much, particularly those who have the active outdoor lifestyle gene. But as I found myself weaving through the chaos, I couldn't help but feel like a fish out of water, anxious to return to Fort Collins, a college town North of Denver with a much more manageable population of around 177,000.
Ah yes, Fort Collins. Nestled snugly at the foot of the Rockies, it’s a town that seems to have found the secret recipe for tranquility. So much so, in fact, that Travel and Leisure magazine saw fit to crown it the most peaceful city in the U.S.
And you know what? They’re onto something. The pace of life here is different. It’s slower, yes—but in the way that a gentle stream meanders through a forest, unhurried and content to simply be. The kind of slow that lets you breathe deeply, without that nagging feeling that you’re missing out on something.
The Tao of Tranquility
Eastern philosophy, particularly the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching and the I Ching, offers a few insights on why environments like Fort Collins resonate so deeply with my need for peace.
The Tao Te Ching speaks of rhythm, of aligning oneself with the natural flow of the world. “When nothing is done, nothing is left undone,” says Laozi.
It’s a paradox that points to the importance of harmony—of finding that balance where effort and ease coexist. In Fort Collins, the rhythm of life seems to echo that of nature, a place where you can truly “do nothing” and still feel that everything is as it should be.
The I Ching, that ancient oracle of change, also has much to say about environment and contentment. Hexagram 52, known as “Keeping Still, Mountain,” speaks to the power of stillness and being grounded.
It’s a reminder that true contentment isn’t found in the frenetic chase of more, but in the quiet appreciation of what is. In Fort Collins, you can feel that stillness. The mountains stand watch, ever-present, urging you to stay grounded, to find peace within and reflect it outward.
The Checklist for Serene Living
If Denver left me yearning for the peace of Fort Collins, it also got me thinking about what one should consider when choosing a place to live—a place that minimizes stress and nurtures the soul. Here’s a list of items worth contemplating:
Natural Surroundings: Seek out places where nature is not just a backdrop but a vital part of daily life. Proximity to parks, rivers, mountains, or forests can have a profoundly calming effect.
Pace of Life: Consider the rhythm of the community. Is it a place where people rush from one thing to the next, or is there a collective appreciation for taking life slow?
Noise Levels: Silence is golden, as they say. Opt for places where the loudest sound you’ll hear is the wind rustling through the trees or the chirp of crickets at dusk.
Community Vibe: Look for communities that prioritize connection, where neighbors know each other and gatherings are more about fellowship than formality.
Cultural Alignment: Make sure the local culture aligns with your values, whether that’s a focus on sustainability, wellness, or just good old-fashioned friendliness.
Accessibility to Essentials: While you might crave isolation, you’ll still need to access life’s essentials. A balance between tranquility and convenience is key.
Air Quality: Fresh air, free from the pollution of urban centers, is not just a luxury but a necessity for clear thinking and good health.
Local Philosophy: Some places have a philosophical or spiritual undercurrent that resonates with peace. Whether it’s the influence of Eastern thought or a general embrace of yoga or mindfulness, this can be a huge plus.
In the end, my whirlwind visit to Denver was a reminder of the importance of being in a locale that nurtures rather than drains, that calms rather than agitates.
And while Denver might be the place for many, I found home in Fort Collins, where life flows as gently as a mountain stream and the peace is as palpable as the mountain air.
Since 2022, The Chocolate Taoist has delivered uncommon nomadic wisdom to help you live a more interconnected and expansive life.
If this publication has been a source of wisdom for you then please consider helping me sustain it by becoming a monthly or annual contributor.
For just $6.00/month or $60.00/year, you’ll have the opportunity to share your lived experiences with fellow nomads, fueling fiery discussions that provoke, inspire, and challenge you to think differently.
So I hope you will take the plunge today and contribute to my mission of helping human travelers on this life journey.
Onward and Forward
Diamond Michael Scott aka The Chocolate Taoist
Your "checklist for serene living" caught my attention, Diamond-Michael. There are several aspects of your checklist that resonate for me when I consider my choice to live in Jamaica and there are a few points that give me pause. I have found it challenging here to have community with like-minded people and I would say that there are gaps with cultural alignment, accessibility to essentials, and noise levels (playing ridiculously loud music and maybe even more than one person doing so at a time is common here!). When I mention cultural alignment, I am thinking about the strong desire of many Jamaicans I know to leave Jamaica for "better" opportunities abroad which has an effect on people getting positively involved in "improving" Jamaica because they just want to leave (there is also a huge amount of corruption here and some of it is obvious while I'm sure there is a lot I have no idea about and this is affecting "improvement" as well). I won't even get into the rampant homophobia on the island...There is a lot of garbage around Jamaica and I often see locals throwing it out of their cars which is disheartening to witness. I cannot go to a beach without seeing some garbage unless you are in the very tourist-y parts of the island where you have to pay a lot of money to even enter the beach (and that's not where I live). With all of that said, my soul was called here and feels the most peace and contentment here despite these challenges. For me, Jamaica embodies the perfectly imperfect life on this planet and allows me lesson after lesson to cultivate inner peace and equanimity. Perhaps the heart of serene living begins and ends in our inner world and we just may be lucky enough to find a place in the external world that meets all, most, or some of the aspects on your checklist. Thank you for giving my mind something to play with this morning with your article! A deep bow and a lotus for you 🙏🪷🩵✨
One of my favorite things about your writing is how often you can move my perspective outside of my personal experience. I fell in love with Fort Collins when I moved here in 1997 and still haven’t left. It feels more like home than my hometown of Pueblo ever did. Your eloquence reminded me of the qualities I love about FoCo. Our respect and love for nature, activity, and community, plus the youthful atmosphere. I certainly look to the nearby hills for peace and grounding my being. However, with the increased traffic and impatience I notice in many drivers, it has diminished my love for our growing city. I have dreamed of moving to smaller areas like Estes Park. As that is not possible yet, you remind me (as Debbie stated well) my inner world may need more cultivation to come back into the ‘heart of serene living’. Fort Collins is by far more peaceful and an easier place for that than Denver! Thank you for helping me see this lovely place in a renewed way again.