I’ve had big dreams for my entire life. In my world, my future consisted of college at Columbia University in New York City, studying art, politics or literature. Then I would move to Washington DC for graduate school to work towards becoming a diplomat.
My imaginary future may not have turned out how I planned (or anything close to it, really), but it never consisted of ending up in my hometown. It’s not that there’s anything inherently bad about Marietta, although I don’t love the insane commercialism, decades-long Republican governance and multiple run-ins with people from high school, but I’ve always felt like a big fish in a small pond.
On my first trip to Paris, I knew there was something bigger out there for me. I wasn’t sure what it would be, but I knew it would take me to some amazing places. Sometimes I feel selfish for not wanting this life. I’ve got amazing friends and family here in Georgia.
Most people who grow up here come back to stay at some point and I’ve always known I wasn’t going to. And lots of times I judge people who want to come back to East Cobb. I know I shouldn’t though, because we all have different dreams. Some people dream of ending up here, surrounded by big houses with pools and high-ranking schools for their children. But it’s never been me. I will take my grubby backpack over that any day.
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I know exactly what you mean. We share similar feelings about our upbringings and hometowns… What took me so long to grasp- and truthfully, I still occasionally wonder about – is how many people are fine living in the same place forever and ever, and don't want to travel far — I think part of this journey we are on in life is truly accepting how different we all are, and that this is a good thing because it makes the world fascinating and lets societies "work" the way they need to :)
Never feel guilty for following your dreams, no matter how different they are from everyone elses. :)
I LOVE your blog. I have traveled extensively throughout the USA but I've never been to any of my dream destinations. I am dying to go to Europe but I always talk myself out of it. There's never enough money, I can never get the time off of work, blah blah blah. There will always be reasons not to go. I just need to go.