The Life Cereal commercial from my youth had the memorable quote “He likes it! Hey Mikey!” The premise of the commercial is that Mikey doesn’t like anything which makes him the perfect test subject for his brothers’ skepticism of this new, healthy cereal, Life.
Despite this blog’s many lamentations and complaints, I have many many moments when I feel like I am the anti-Mikey. I have many moments, and not all of them alcohol-induced or even influenced, when I love everything. The people, the places, the effort, the hope, the resiliency, and even the crushing weight of the human condition. In short, life.
Today, I’m in Tulsa, OK. I like it more than I expected to. But I’ve also liked every other city that I’ve visited. Trained to be critical in nature, liking so many things gives me pause. It makes me think I may not have a discerning palette. Maybe I’m just a slut for cities and new experiences. If you’ve read any of this blog, you know that I’m a glass is both full and empty type of person… but when I examine what I think to be my core nature, I tend to land on the side of constant curiosity and wonder. I walk through cities looking at street art and architecture. I sit at bars and coffee shops and watch everything around me with a sense sadness when I see cruelty or suffering and a sense of joy when I see people showing kindness or experiencing happiness. I’m easily amused and equally easily distressed, but on the balance find fascination in all of it.
On Facebook, a friend posted a news article about the number of cool bars that are closing in Portland, OR. Another friend responded lamenting the state of affairs in America’s major cities saying that “you take your safety and certainly your olfactory senses into your own hands…” when visiting. They’re mostly talking about crime and homelessness in our major cities. I’ve been tempted to reply several times. I know a thing or two about addressing homelessness, and I’m currently seeing America city by city.
Based on my experience, I don’t share their pessimism. Don’t get me wrong, I think things are bad. I suspect, but can’t prove, that they may be getting worse (in terms of homelessness and crime). But I also think our media likes to highlight the negative while taking for granted, or overlooking the positive. They feed the cycle with stories about doom loops. They sensationalize because it sells clicks and viewers and because we have little time or patience for analysis. Instead of accepting places for how they are, the media likes to make lists predicting the next fallen giant like Detroit or the next rising star like Asheville. Personally, I’m trying to go a little deeper. I’m trying to look past all of those things. As I’m traveling, I’m drawn to the liveliness, history, culture, and sense of community that nearly every city I’ve visited possesses. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at almost every turn. Enough so, that I’m starting to think that I like everything.