Joseph Jarrett

What some people claim is a dream was something I got to live out as a reality. Young, alive, and living in a big city. In fact, I did it a couple of times. Each time brought me something new and exciting, and some not-so-exciting moments. The craziest part of it all, though? I think I’d do it again. If it were in the cards, the stars, and an opportunity to take one last insane adventure, why shouldn’t I?

            I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. In a similar way, every place you end up calling home is also meant to be. You’re supposed to be there at that time, and you should get something out of the experience that sticks with you forever. As an adult, I know for a fact that the cities I have lived in have given me this phenomenon. Some had much greater effects than others, and that’s totally okay. Each one was a unique experience that cannot be compared to the rest.  

            For example, when I talk about my time in Chicago, my answer could vary. But like I wrote in my post on Monday, nothing stuck with me more than getting over my fear of public transportation. Being able to navigate the trains like a local made me feel like a true city dweller, despite the fact that I have almost exclusively lived in the suburbs. Had I never spent those months in Chicago, I’d probably still pay for overpriced Ubers in every city I go to. It’s not the main thing I would have ever expected to get out of it, but it’s my truth. Deal with it.

            Someone I really look up to is my cousin, whom I renamed as Mel in Mishaps & Mistakes. Mel is a hell of a lot braver than a lot of people I know. After growing up in Long Island, she moved to Brooklyn and became a true city girl. Later on, she pulled the wildest move ever and went solo to Los Angeles. New York to Los Angeles is the pipeline you only see in the movies, but she made it a reality. Could you imagine? Part of the reason I left the airline lifestyle behind was because of how homesick I found myself. I was going to amazing places but was too poor to afford any fun excursions, and I had no company to tag along with on the adventures most of the time. Mel, on the other hand, took life by the horns and built her life into something new. I couldn’t be more proud of her for doing what so many never could and never will.

            While drastic big city moves might not be for everyone, I do think the dream of going somewhere other than the town you grew up in is a totally valid one. I think it is a disservice to never test the waters elsewhere. Imagine if Carrie Bradshaw never made it to New York City. Or if Violet never left New Jersey to cross the Hudson in Coyote Ugly. We never would have discovered cosmopolitans or “Can’t Fight the Moonlight.” Life would have been so incredibly boring.

            It’s crazy to think that now I’m actually so happy in my hometown nowadays. I used to dread spending time in Jacksonville after I moved away. Obviously I loved being with my family here, but after all of my friends moved away for school and new careers, it just wasn’t the same. I couldn’t blame any of them for leaving, though. I did the same thing after all. After my various adventures came to a close and I was ready to move home, I found a new sense of appreciation for my city. Now, don’t get me wrong, I find myself missing Dallas and Chicago all the time. But it’s more from a nostalgia point than anything else. I never had that sense of loss with Jacksonville. It was almost as if I knew I’d somehow find my way back one day. Me? The certified city girl? Purposely placing myself back here? What the actual hell, am I right?

            Once I began to figure out who I was as a person, it made it easier to come back. I think I needed to disappear and grow to put myself in a better place. Because at the end of the day, we all just want to be the best versions of ourselves. Finding the right city is such a huge aspect of accomplishing that mission. While I still find myself questioning what I want sometimes, it is not nearly as bad as it was in my early twenties. My struggles have shifted to an entirely different end of the quarter life crisis spectrum, but they’re struggles that make sense for where I’ve ended up.             All of this to say, adventure is good for the soul. New cities and new experiences are the artist behind some of life’s greatest moments and lessons. It would be such a shame to never allow yourself the chance at living life to the fullest. Maybe it’s Chicago, or Dallas, or even Jacksonville for you. You never know until you dive in head first. So, what city are you heading to next?