Love It, but Leave It
Rivers run and disappear, yet the fish never do. Mountain peaks too high for pines to populate. Wildlife and livestock outnumber the residents ten-fold. Lush native meadows rimmed by sagebrush covered foothills. Out of towners are identified simply by passing without a returning wave. The growing season is as short as the mountains are tall. At 5 AM the corner table of the gas station is at max capacity with crusty old ranchers and farmers spreading the morning bull. This high desert town, where the elevation far outweighs the population, will forever be home to me.
All of this romanticizing of my hometown leads me down a trail that you might find contrary to my professed love. It is so important to love where you are from and be proud of it but you have to leave it. I’m not saying you can never move back but you will always be known as who you were in high school if you don’t leave and find out who you are. I did not want to leave home and venture out into the world, but I did, and I am so thankful I took that leap of faith. Home will always be there but your younger years of seeing the world, getting life experience, and learning how to make a life anywhere will not always be an option. Get out there and rip the band aid off. Go live in a state or country where no one knows you or your family. You can be exactly who you are when there isn’t this preconceived idea of who people think you should be. In your hometown people are expecting you to act like your uncle Larry. You are not Larry, you are you.
I hope we have the opportunity to raise our children somewhere similar to where I grew up. I have traveled enough to know there are amazing places all across the country that would be worthy candidates for growing children. But I can promise you one thing, they will be sent out into the world when they are of age. We would be doing them a giant injustice if we didn't encourage them to take on the world. The amount of growth, real life experience, and appreciation that comes from leaving cannot be replicated staying in your comfort zone.
You know that saying about a big fish in a small pond… well I have never had a fish but I do have some house plants. And by house plants I mean a couple cacti. The great thing about cacti is they are not needy. They like neglect and I am good at supplying that. They flourish with my extremely sporadic watering routine, so much so that they just keep growing. That is, until they top out and get too big for their pot. They look pretty puny in their new home but they have so much room to grow. As soon as they are transplanted they keep growing. I’m pretty sure this applies to fish too, they will not outgrow their home. So who are we but fish and cacti? Your growth will be stunted if you don't change your environment. Growth comes with travel, being brave enough to feel small, taking chances, and having an open mindset.
Here's to pink sunsets that radiate off the snow covered ridges. Here's to being brave and taking chances. Here's to bull elk echoing the soundtrack of fall. Here's to finding yourself and new strengths. Here's to a full blanket of stars covering the night sky. Here's to having an open mind and roots at the same time. Here's to home and learning to make anywhere home. I love my hometown and I love that I left it.
