“Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!”  – Leslie Knope

Many Parks and Recreation quotes are memorable, but this one has been in the forefront of my mind as I’ve reflected on 2015. My life has undergone major changes, and among them was my relocation to Detroit. Looking back on the past four months, I realized how much being present in Detroit had energized me, challenged me, and ultimately forced me to grow as an individual. It left me meditating on the question, “Does Detroit do this to everyone?”

So, I took a small sample. Over the past four months I have been incredibly fortunate to have friends and family visit for varied periods of time. During their visits, I was either too ecstatic or afraid (probably some combination of both) to ask them what they thought of Detroit. But as I reflected on the year, I took the time to ask. Here is what a few of them they said:

“We passed dark abandoned buildings, and all I could think about was their history. I felt that they must have had some amazing stories to tell. I began to imagine them as they could be, what promise they had… The food, the coffee, the people. Everything was amazing. Detroit is amazing.”

“I saw that there are those who are trying and who have not given up.”

“Detroit is one of the most genuinely creative places I’ve ever visited in my life. Too often, a city is billed as a creative hub and it churns out tired work, but so many incredibly innovative artists call Detroit home. I would argue that life-changing creativity only comes from a place of intense struggle, but then I’d be rambling about how nothing good comes from a place of perpetual comfort (because it’s true). From world-class chefs like Guns & Butter’s Craig Lieckfelt to musicians like Flint Eastwood’s Jax Anderson, projects like the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative to artist collectives like Complex Movements, Detroit pushes the envelope in its own unique and very inspiring way.”

“The thing I was perhaps most struck by in Detroit was the buildings. They all appeared weathered and storied. I was impressed by the relative variety of architectural styles I found and the uniqueness of the buildings I saw. I wondered at what the historical circumstances were and what cultural milieu might have been that would produce so distinctive a city. I realized there was a severe gap in my knowledge about the heritage of the greatest city on our pleasant peninsulas.”

Through these conversations I realized that each and every person was engaged in some way by Detroit, and that their time visiting had been far from phlegmatic. It is no secret that Detroit has its imperfections, but it is evident that there has always been something special here. Each person I spoke to seemed to have gleaned a real curiosity from, or about, the city. In my mind, it is confirmed: With clear eyes and full hearts, Detroit can’t lose.

Side Note: Check out Parks and Rec for breakfast. You cannot get waffles here, but you can get some dang good crepes. Previously, it served as the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for 40 years.