A Love Letter to Chicago
A Love Letter to Chicago
I packed up what was left of my apartment and waited for my father to arrive. He was taking me and my boxes back to Ohio. After a tearful goodbye with my sister we were off.
I waved goodbye to all the tall buildings, I was fine, I totally thought I was going to be fine. A few minutes in... tears. I cried, and cried some more.
l had Taylor Swift coming though the stereo as we drove away... obviously. And as my father kept trying to talk to me, I kept turning up the volume dial.
Just let me cry and listen to Taylor in peace DAD!!
As we drove away and all of the buildings disappeared from view I thought a lot about my last 3 years in the Windy City...
I've come a long way since my first night alone in my one bedroom loft with no furniture and no idea what I was getting myself into.
I spent ages 25-28 here
Chicago, I love you.
I have learned a lot, I have grown up a ton, and I have had one hell of a time...
I found my own style and I embraced it. For the first time I stopped caring about the latest trends. I wore what I wanted to wear, because I liked it.
I learned it is possible to make genuine, life long friendships as an adult in the real world. Friendships don't solely exist from high school or college. It just takes more effort. Because people have more responsibilities and busy lives.
I learned a simple Hello goes a long way. Say 'Hello', ask someone how they are. Be approachable. Say hi to the person you see week after week at your yoga class. Make an extra effort for the new kid at work. Have you ever been mad when someone sits down next to you and strikes up a conversation? You never know where it can lead. Friendships, opportunities, experiences.
I had my heart broken for the first time in ages. I forgot how much it hurt. But I put it all out there, I went for it, I said everything I wanted to say and I have no regrets. I am proud of myself for that. Looking back I can see now he was all wrong for me. It was a great reminder that time and perspective can heal most anything.
I moved a lot growing up, and I have always been pretty good at keeping in touch with people. However, Chicago was my first adult move and I began to realize the importance of keeping in touch. Friendships are important. They are your people. I left all of my people in Cleveland. I left all my people in Columbus. You have to make time for relationships. I can still be better at this. (Cue my mother commenting on this post to call her more...)
I learned that you have to ask in order to receive. You want the promotion, ask. Want the raise, ask. Want the help, ask. No way would I have been able to break out of the accounting world and snag a new role in a completely different world at my company if I had not asked every single person I knew for help, guidance and advice... completely pestering everyone until a new opportunity was presented to me.
I got dragged into an unfriendly situation at work that reminded me to always, no matter what, be kind to everyone. I mean.. I am not perfect, but kindness is something I continue to work on and live by everyday.
I learned that people throw rocks at things that shine. People can be really negative. and thats ugly. I don't want to be ugly guys!! I want to be cute. Cute and nice and positive and happy for others.
Everyone is different.
This was an important lesson. Everyone is different. Not everyone is like you. Not everyone shares the same views as you do. Not everyone wants to live their life the same way you do.
Okay guys, this took me a loooong time. I couldn't understand.. why would someone do that? How do they not get this? Why would they choose A over B? etc.
Once I realized that everyone is different. Once I accepted that. Once I embraced that. It was like FREEDOM. I stopped caring so much about other peoples choices and focused on the things I could control, like ME and my choices. What makes one persons opinion better over another anyways?
Once you chose to listen and view the world through someone else's eyes, you just may learn something new.
Most of all, In a city of endless possibilities I learned..
Today is never too late to be brand new
The world has endless possibilities just waiting for you, you can be whoever you want to be.
Thank you Chicago, I love you. Thank you for teaching me to be my own person. Thank you for the friends I gained, the memories I made, and for being the stepping stone I needed to get to where I am going.
And just because I am feeling nostalgic lets take a look at some of the highlights..
My first year at Workiva.. we had quite the crew. Cheers to all the nights spent at Hubbard Inn, Celeste, Debonair, Untitled and Rock it..
TAYLOR concert at the Bear's Stadium
Maddie, Dave, Tony and Brittany welcoming me into their Spartan Squad. NEVER a dull moment with this crew. Special shout out to the night we celebrated the MSU win over Michigan by jumping in an empty rooftop pool ..
Taking on Chicago with this nug, who I have know since birth!
The first time all of the high school girls came to Chicago and we stayed up to watch the sunrise on my rooftop. Slash anytime all of us were together in Chi!
Getting to spend over 2 years sharing the same city with Andrea.. just like we had planned as 9th graders! Ivan was the perfect added bonus, and anytime Emily & Kyle were around life was even better. Cheers to all the money we spent on the punching bag at BEER and tuna-talk-showing our way through chi-town.
Cheering on the Buckeyes from the Chicago Ohio State bars
MY FAVORITE CHICAGO MOMENTS.. Getting to spend countless outrageous moments with my baby sis and best friend Kathleen
On that first night in Chicago I walked up to my rooftop with 2 summer shandy's, wearing an oversized sweatshirt and no make up. I figured I would sit up there by myself, stare at the sky line and soak it all in. Instead, I made my very first friend, Marco. I didn't expect that, but then again life is full of little surprises.
Now, as I am about to turn the page on a new chapter, I cannot help but wonder what lessons I will learn and what little surprises life has in store for me this time..
There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind -C.S. Lewis
Feel free to send me a message in the below contact box! What was your favorite part of this post? I would love to hear from you!
留言