I had a chance to rediscover my city, recently. No, it wasn’t my intention; I certainly didn’t start the day that way. I guess, one could say it happened by accident during my Friday lunch.
Instead of placing myself in seclusion during my hour away from colleagues and clients, I decided to head out for a cup of soup. Sure, I could have gone to a number of restaurants within a 5 minute walk from our building, but decided to take a trip on the Detroit People Mover (DPM) instead, hoping for the perfect bowl of lobster bisque.
The DPM is a fully automated light rail system that operates on an elevated single track loop in Detroit’s central business district. It’s about 3 miles around. While on board, I was surrounded by red and white and everything Detroit Red Wings.
Unfortunately, I’m not a hockey fan, so the fact that my local hockey team would play in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals, at home, was of little interest to me. Yes, I supported them and hoped for a win, but this support was weak and obligatory just because they were from the ‘D.’
The other riders were die-hards, wearing red and white striped socks (like the cat and the hat), jerseys, and the like. What was most evident, however, was their interest in the city. They were asking questions about our new bus terminal, other landmarks, and events. They were snapping pictures, planning dinners, and trips to local museums. I answered questions when I could, but wondered what the excitement was about.
Why take a picture of Joe Louis Arena? I park there everyday and see the Red Wing’s Octopus more than I need to. Was our waterfront just that beautiful?
What did they see that I didn’t see?
During a recent trip to Charlotte, I was absolutely charmed, wowed by the city’s beauty, cleanliness, friendliness, and history….and just like that, these visitors were charmed by Detroit, my hometown, a place that I’ve taken for granted.
As these thoughts floated through my mind, I looked up, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, it was just perfect – actually matching ‘ sky blue’ in the Crayola crayon box. The weather was grand, with a winning spirit in the air, forcing me to look at the city a little differently.
If I had been visiting Detroit, I would have thought it was great, with much to offer, too.
And to be honest, it is.
It’s unfortunate, that it took visitors to help me see that, to see that the grass isn’t always greener, that I have so much right here.
Have you had any experiences that led to rediscovery? When have you ignored gifts in your life?
