I'm just going to say this. It is my choice to live in the city. In fact, I kind of think of it as a privilege. Everyday I wake up and I think about how lucky I am to live where I live. Just knowing that the entire city is at my fingertips makes all of my work stress easier to deal with. I love walking to get my coffee in the morning and am so looking forward to grabbing a delicious hot chocolate at 1369 when the colder weather comes. I love that almost everything I need is a five minute or less walk from my house.
It's really starting to bother me when people insinuate that I have to live in the city because my life isn't like theirs. I choose to live in the city! I willingly signed up for this life and I wouldn't change any part of it. Sure there are nuisances like having to park on the street and deal with the crazy bike riders. But living other places comes with their own set of issues. I remember when going to Wal-Mart was a day trip and trying to get take out food was like jumping through hoops. I remember how I couldn't go for walks because we didn't have sidewalks and being bored meant a trip to the mall.
Now, I could walk to my nearest Target if I wanted to. I have access to food from virtually any region you can think of, and long walks (especially to the river) are easy. If I'm bored I can go to a museum, go for a walk around one of the squares, see an independent film at Kendall, take pictures by the river, etc.
Recently I feel like a lot of people have been judging my life choices using the same standards they use to judge their own lives. Unacceptable! First of all, no one should be judging my life choices. Second of all, by my standards my life is completely and 100% successful. Sure there are some things I would love to change. For example, I'd love to wear more Ann Taylor than Old Navy but Old Navy is cheaper and I don't want to cry when a kid accidentally paints me green in it. I'd love to have a fancy pair of shoes but working with 10 year olds doesn't require it so I don't bother. But in the end, I could not be happier with how I live my life, where I live my life, and who I live my life with. I don't need a house, a yard, or a ring to be happy!
This is the life I chose. This is the life I made happen for myself by taking a huge risk and moving in with three girls I didn't know. This is the life that makes me smile every morning because this is my life, not yours, and I don't need what you have to be happy!
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What the rage? I've never seen this before... Very nice. Let it all out.
ReplyDeleteIt's okay to be a city-mouse if it makes you happy.
Personally, I never liked the city because I felt like everyone in the city was MORE judgemental of everything I did.
"Oh, you're wearing a fleece instead of a peacoat? Oh, look at those shoes! Eww, you bought those jeans at the GAP?"
Kind of ironic, I guess.
Thanks Jay. You like the country and I like the city and some how we seem to get along just fine :-)
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