This past year, Colorado wasn’t short on headline exposure. We made national news for legalizing recreational marijuana, devastating floods, and our confusing and sometimes strange politics. There was one more thing we weren’t short on this year: feel-good moments that reminded us why the Centennial state never ceases to amaze us. Here, videos that made us laugh out loud, drop our jaws in awe, or just plain proud to call this place home.

1. When Nuggets player Kenneth Faried spoke out in support of gay rights in early 2013, with his two moms by his side. Luckily, Colorado opened up its courts to civil unions in March.

2. Remember when Mayor Michael Hancock bet Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake that he would do the Ray Lewis dance, if the Broncos lost to the Ravens in early January? It may have taken awhile (due to, ahem, practice injuries), but we applaud the Mile High mayor for sticking to his word.

3. Earlier this year, we wrote about the video “Breathless,” a beautiful visual that pays homage to our state. Similarly, one local named Ryan Dravitz made this time-lapse video of Denver.

4. Peyton and Eli Manning definitely got the job done with “Football on Your Phone.” Go Broncos!

5. When basketball player Anna Olsen of Lewis-Palmer High School threw this one-handed shot across the court… and made it.

What videos did you watch in 2013 that made you proud to be a Coloradan?

Jerilyn Forsythe
Jerilyn Forsythe
Jerilyn Forsythe is a freelance writer and editor, and 5280's former digital associate editor. Follow her on Instagram or Twitter @jlforsyt.