I felt consumed by the frantic pace of the city when I first moved there. Having been from a small town north of Boston, I wasn’t exposed to the day-to-day of city life and the hustle and bustle of metropolitan living. Though I moved 30 minutes south, this new environment was entirely different than the isolated place I called home for so long. And while I felt lost for some time, overwhelmed by the many happenings around me, I owe all of my own personal growth to the city.
It is far too easy to give in to fear, leaving many stones unturned in our lives. We retreat back to where we grew up, scared to push ourselves toward the road less traveled. We want to remain the valedictorian or the star basketball player, unnerved by the possibility that there are people out there who are smarter or more athletic than we are. It's easy to be good or the best at something when coming from such a small community, void of discomfort and exposure to the outside world. The city shaped who I am today and molded me in the palm of its hands. It taught me to crave new experiences and actively explore new places and things, and for that, I am so grateful. It taught me that success comes to those who venture out and take risks. The city is a breeding ground for great things.
In the city, there are people smarter, stranger, prettier, more successful than you are. There are people who have been there and done that. And that is the beauty of the city. It might turn you off, leave a sour taste in your mouth, knowing you are one of many in a small block trying to carve out a sense of self. But, the city is the only place that allows you a safe space to grow and exceed what you might have thought possible. You are able to learn from different people and experience amazing things. Live in the city at some point and watch the effect it has on you. Let it chew you up and spit you out. It is in delving deep into new and exciting things that we collect experience and formulate understanding of the world around us. We realize who we are and where we are going. We learn new things and share them with the rest of our community.
One would be remiss in failing to leave the small town behind in order to experience city living at least once in his or her life. That person would be relinquishing the ability to see what else is out there. It is a big place, the world. There are many different countries, many spectacular cities and no shortage of amazing people. It is when we accept the prospect of being a little fish in a big pond and embrace discomfort in an unfamiliar place that we learn and ultimately grow as individuals.
