It is not very often that someone from outside of Cleveland has a positive word to say about this beautifully dynamic city or its inhabitants. In all honesty, we can’t really blame them. As outsiders, they just don’t know.
They don’t have the pleasure of knowing the experience that is Cleveland, Ohio.
Cleveland is home to an extraordinarily diverse community of individuals and has become an ever-changing and expanding dynamic as a result. With something that caters to any and every interest due to the variety of cultures coming together, this city has the power to raise generations of well-rounded, globally aware individuals with the ability to leave a mark wherever they wander in this world. Diversity is not something to fear, diversity is something to embrace in this day and age, and it is without a doubt that Cleveland does just that.
Outsiders don’t understand the sense of community among Clevelanders. Whether you are enjoying the view of the fountain in the newly renovated Public Square, moseying around the West Side Market in Ohio City, or catching Pokemon down by the East 9th Pier, countless people, friends or strangers, will prompt you with a cordial, "How are you today?” paired with an eye-wincing smile, and will genuinely wish you the best when parting. When wandering into other locales, this kindly courtship is likely to be missed.
Outsiders don’t understand the sweet taste of victory after all of their hard work has finally paid off. Courtesy of LeBron James himself, here in Cleveland we have this saying – "Cleveland is a place where nothing is given, and everything is earned."
As exemplified in the recent championship brought to Cleveland by the Cavaliers, but moreover as a representation of the city as a whole, Clevelanders know what it means to work towards their goals, and they know just how satisfying the success is in the end of each fought-out endeavor. Clevelanders never lose faith in themselves or in their city. They never give up, and they know that this determination and perseverance are something to take pride in. “Maybe next year,” tends to be a common theme in Cleveland, however it’s likely for outsiders to misinterpret what this means. “Maybe next year,” doesn’t mean we are giving up on what is currently at hand, but instead it means that we are going to learn from the current situation, and we are going to continue working our tails off until we make it happen and the fruits of our labor are seen. Perhaps this can be mistaken for grandiose optimism, but here in the Land, we know anything is possible.
Outsiders don’t understand the joy being surrounded by locally-produced works of art. Cleveland is home to an abundance of artistically-minded individuals who showcase their work for all to see. Whether it be in the form of street performers in and around Playhouse Square, independent movie producers filming a scene in your local bar, sketch artists drawing your portrait amid the hustle and bustle on the RTA, or local businesses setting up pop-up shops of their handcrafted decor, Cleveland is home to a unique set of talents with the power and will to share them with the community as they establish themselves within it.
We are different, but we are one, unified in our city-wide community by our aggressiveness in making Cleveland adaptable to everyone, our die-hard love and support for our local sports teams, our never give up mentality, our extensive interest and appreciation for the arts, and our pride in calling Cleveland home. That’s something outsiders just don’t understand.
