commute

the wind rushed through the tunnels and all around me with an urgency not unlike the fevered pitch of the people that crowded the passageway. as the train sped away and i climbed out of the underground catacombs known as the red line Grand Ave. stop, i couldn't help but think, "wow, here i am again". i lived and worked in Chicago for about three years. it was a love/hate relationship with a city i dearly loved, but suffered in for so long.

i took that same train every day for three years. if you're familiar with chicago, you may know that from this stop i have two choices to get to work. Lower Michigan Ave. goes underneath Michigan and cuts across to Ohio St. with almost no traffic. no waiting to cross the busy street. plus, in the cold weather being underneath minimizes the bite of the wind on your face. short and sweet. the other is to actually cut across Upper Michigan - to experience the lights and hustle and bustle of a beautiful city.

on this new day, although things felt familiar, i know that i am a different person that i was back then. life isn't about avoiding hardships and minimizing pain. it's not about just getting from point A to point B. life is experiencing the wonders that are around us in everyday life. it's about seeing the positive and not dwelling on the negative. it's about staying focused and finding out who you are among the cacophony of voices going in different directions.

i took Upper Michigan