With almost twelve years under my belt, I still learn something new every day by living in Naples, Florida.
Moving from a small town to Naples, Florida was nothing short of a culture shock. I went from having one person in my town driving a Mercedes-Benz to tens of thousands. As a twenty-something, I have learned a whole lot from living in a place that is #14 on Forbes' Top Places to Retire Rich.
Everything is a learning lesson, right? With that, thank you Naples, Florida for helping me become the person I am today.
1. Happiness far outweighs money
Over the past twelve years, I have come across all types. Rich, poor, young, old, happy, or miserable. Naples taught me that having all the money in the world doesn't mean you're happy with yourself. Keyword: yourself. I've learned the importance of enjoying the little things because in most cases, the bigger things are just ways of fitting in. There are so many things I would rather invest my time in, and happiness far outweighs any amount of money.
2. Naples is a melting pot
If you live in Naples, you know that barely anyone is actually from Naples. Naples is a place where most people retire or families move to escape shoveling the snow. Moving from small-town Indiana, I honestly had no idea what a Mercedes-Benz was. I thought Audi was the kind of bellybutton you had. In my small hometown, everyone knew everyone and were somewhat similar. Naples has helped me understand how important it is to be around those who are different from you. I love learning new things, especially in a city I share with so many.
3. The importance of helping
In a place where there are a variety of incomes, ages, and family dynamics, it costs absolutely nothing to help others out. The community in Naples is unlike any other place. Naples is home to thousands of non-profits who are giving up their Saturday to fundraise or collect donations. Living in Naples, I have learned that helping others is far more rewarding than anything you could get in return.
4. Always be kind
I live by the quote "kindness doesn't cost a thing". In a money hungry world, being kind is the most inexpensive, but also the most rewarding. Any amount of money doesn't correlate to how you treat others. What if we lived in a world where your wealth was determined by the number of "Acts of Kindness" you did each day? How rich would you be?
5. I am blessed.
Sunny beaches, weather over 80 degrees almost every day, and a downtown area that consists of the most prestigious restaurants and top designers...that I can't afford on a college student budget. How can anyone be unhappy? Naples has more millionaires per capita than any other city in Florida....just let that sink in. Even though I will never reach a salary like that, I consider myself blessed to live a place which has been named as one of the top 10 happiest places to live in the United States.
Thank you Naples for helping me become the person I am.