a trip to the american midwest
2 weeks ago, I got to go on a little trip to the midwest of the US - specifically Michigan! I have never really spent too much time in the midwest, especially when the weather is nice like it was during my stay. I was at a friend's place for a weekend to wind down and have a breather from the hustle and bustle of life.
As someone who's primarily used to the west coast of America, Michigan was surprisingly slower paced, but in the best way possible. Things just move slower. I didn't feel like I'm was in a rush to do something, and the quietness of my friend's apartment (and her beautiful view outside her living room) made me feel like I was in a Ghibli movie. The west coast is already quite relaxed, but in Michigan it felt a lot more relaxed. Maybe it's because I work in tech but the friendly people combined with fields of greenery made it such an enjoyable stay.
I want to visit again sometime in the summer, as I've made Michigan my official vacation state to escape from my reality. I have a lot of big things coming up, including a big move and starting grad school (excited!!) and in the midst of it all I really did feel overwhelmed, especially when it came to finding a new home and all of the stuff at work.
I'm glad that I got to experience how wonderful Michigan can be. To be honest I did not have good thoughts on Michigan prior to my stay... the dangerous Detroit area and too much drinking were the first things that came to mind. But now that I've seen just how beautiful the state can be, I do yearn to go back again. I don't know if I'd be ready to permanently move there, but I definitely want to visit. My friend has been an absolute joy to be with, and I can't thank her enough for her generosity. Kindness is truly the greatest gift one can receive.
I think this is also a chance to say that slowing down is something I highly recommend; when I came back home, I had this sudden realization that I was worrying about a bunch of things for no apparent reason. Why am I worried about X? Why am I anxious about what *insert person thinks of what I said?* I realized when I came back that I was excessively worrying for nothing, and that there was, indeed, no reason to worry, because they were things that didn't need to be worried about anyway. The sun will still rise tomorrow.