Good-bye, Cincinnati

I meant to write this post before I left Cincinnati, but, alas, that is life. I got the inspiration to write this post here.

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Dear Cincinnati,

I know in the five years I lived here I wanted to get out. I always bragged about how Cleveland was better, even though I still stand by that. I dreamed about being somewhere else without taking the time to appreciate where I was at the moment. I will admit, I HATED Clifton, but the city as a whole wasn't that bad.

Looking back I realized I wasted so much time in that city. I spent most of the time only knowing UC and Clifton. I didn't have a car so it made it difficult to get around. However, the last several months showed me that the city really did have so much to offer. I spent the last several months trying new restaurants and exploring new venues. I felt like I did so much, and yet I didn't even scratch the surface of all the things I wanted to explore.

The last few months were the first time in all the years I had been there that I didn't want to leave. Maybe it was because I knew I had a great group of friends there that I no longer have in Mentor. Maybe it was because I realized the city wasn't so bad. Despite my efforts to stay, I knew God has a bigger plan for me that required me to leave. As I am sitting at my parents' house writing this post I don't see that plan and I'm starting to doubt that there ever was one. 

I just wanted to write this post because after all that happened you made this die-hard Cleveland girl turn a soft spot to you. You have changed my outlook on the way I view life and the places I'm living. I loved the culture, history, and values your city shared. I always loved Cleveland, but I think I was always too young and naive to really discover what I  loved about it. Cincinnati, you have made me excited to discover my own city in the same way that I discovered you.