"Roam if you must, but come home once you've seen enough." — Slug of Atmosphere.
One of the best quotes I've come across. If you didn't know already, Atmosphere is a hip hop group based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their song "Say Shh" talks about living in the land of 10,000 lakes and how being a famous, traveling rapper doesn't keep you from coming back to where it all began-home.
In my 18 years of this beautiful life, I have moved four times and am currently working on my fifth. Being raised in St. Michael for four years, to Kimball for 11 years, Eden Valley for two years and St. Cloud and Brooklyn Park for one has shown me multiple different lifestyles. Starting out in St. Michael was a great way to enjoy being a kid. I remember biking to the park and living next door to my childhood best friend. The simplicity of childhood is such a blessing, and I miss it dearly.
Going to elementary through junior year of Kimball High School was quite an adventure. In elementary school, I had decided, just like every other 8-year-old, my crush and I were bound to get married and my best friend at the time was going to be the maid of honor. Forging your mom's signature in your planner just so you can go outside for recess totally doesn't work, and even though I thought I matched quite well, I so didn't. Middle school was even worse! My butt was too big for my body, my nose was too big for my face and hoofta, was my hair cute. I think it's normal for people to speak maybe once or twice about their middle school days and then never bring it up again — ever. High school brought drama, bullying, awkward dances, sporting events, pep rallies, until it got to be too much for me.
Eden Valley ended up being the school I graduated from, and I honestly couldn't be happier with it. The town has about 1,000 people total. Bigger than Kimball, but smaller than St. Michael. After high school, I had gone up to St. Cloud to start my college career. It was good for the first few weeks, and then I noticed some changes in my behavior. As much as I don't want to admit it, I was an awful student, sister, daughter, girlfriend, all of the above. I don't want to go as far as saying "Oh, it's just the freshman experience" because it was but it was also conscious choices I was making as well. I knew it wasn't healthy for me to continue my studies there, so I decided to move to Brooklyn Park and work my tail off until I had saved up enough money for the school I'd been dreaming of attending since eighth grade. When you're as sporadic as I am, you really learn a lot about yourself in a short while.
Throughout the duration of time it took me to move to Brooklyn Park, and realize Duluth was my next stop, I had come to conclusion that working in sales is not for me, Wild Bills in Maple Grove has the best guacamole burger you will ever taste, and that my heart is completely stolen by my best friend. Moving around from place to place and going through the obstacles I have in life has shown me to be proud of everything that should come my way. I wouldn't be who I am today if my life had turned out any differently.
Am I disappointed in some choices I've made in the past? Sure. Everyone does things they're not proud of. Am I proud of myself for making really reasonable, mature choices that will only benefit my life from here on out? Yes, of course. It's all a part of growing up and figuring out who you're meant to be. I have realized I'm meant to live in my small hometown, and stick to the small town rituals I've been used to my whole life — not because it's what's easiest, but because it's what I'm most comfortable doing. I have realized when love hits, it hits you hard and you usually can't escape it. Moving on in life whether it be a job, a new relationship, a new home, can be very tough but very beneficial. I can only hope I'm making the best choices by following my dreams by going to school in Duluth this coming fall. If I come to see that Duluth isn't the place that I will thrive at, on to the next journey!
I wanted to bring up this topic in an article because I feel like a lot of young adults these days are struggling with some of the same feelings. The feeling of wanting to go explore your life, but not knowing how to leave the nest. Don't be afraid to go travel a little, and test out your feelers. Explore this world, but don't forget your mom's home cooking. Don't forget the loud old lady in the church pew ahead of you singing her heart out to Jesus. Don't forget running around barefoot in your backyard through the sprinkler. Don't forget seeing everyone and their dog at school events, and town get-together's. Figure our where you're meant to be. I have done quite a bit of searching the last few years, and it's always brought me back to my roots. Some people don't get that option, or let alone want to move back where they came from, but for me it's different. Growing up in such diverse locations around Minnesota has been a blessing and a curse. I am thankful for each and every experience I've received and will forever be grateful for the towns that built me.
