During my short time here, I’ve had the privilege of hearing many inspirational speakers share their thoughts, research, and even personal experiences about the city of Detroit. They shared their knowledge with us, both personally and historically, about the city and the comparisons from the Detroit then to Detroit now.
The city continues to undergo many changes, the term “change” being used with a bittersweet tongue. The truth is, many people are resistant to change. It’s sometimes new, it’s unfamiliar, and it simply makes some people feel uncomfortable. A phrase used by Dan Kinkead, speaking on behalf of Detroit Future City, described some of these changes included in their future framework plan for the city:
“We’re dishing out lots of broccoli but not handing over lots of chocolate cake.”
The point he was trying to make was that although the changes may not taste so good now, it will make the city stronger in the long run. I took this saying to heart and decided to apply it to my own life changes—my transition to Detroit.
In the past couple months there have been many changes in my life: new apartment, new friends, new city, new job… just to get the list going. I will admit that when first moving to the city, I felt uncomfortable. Not because I felt unsafe, not because I didn’t get along with my roommate, I felt uncomfortable because I was surrounded by so much of the unfamiliar.
My apartment in Ypsi.
Coming from a living history of small apartment units in small-town community neighborhoods complete with plenty of accessible green space, to a 6 story brick building on one of the busiest streets in Detroit, surrounded by concrete and [now] bright orange construction barrels was quite an adjustment. I went from working in a highly creative environment with
My apartment in Detroit.
plenty of natural light to a not-so-colorful, uniform cubicle with an itty bitty window. Needless to say, things were different. The uncomfortable feeling I experienced was a result of my resistance to the changes in my life. I was craving the comfort of the sweet, savory chocolate cake.
I began to explore, both in Detroit and in surrounding areas, to help make the unfamiliar more… familiar. I biked all over the city in attempt to gather some navigational bearings so I wouldn’t have to rely on my GPS just to get me to the grocery store or the coffee shop. I submerged myself in social media, not so much the engaging portion just yet, but particularly the snooping. I wanted to get involved and I wanted to be social. I discovered a Bikes & Yoga group that meets every Thursday and rides from the Riverfront to Belle Isle for free community yoga. I jumped in the Slow Roll that congregates every Monday night and parades around the city in a massive community bike ride. I began to form a routine, and my unfamiliar environment started to become more familiar; it started to feel more like home.
Personally, I think the broccoli gets a bad rep. Yeah, it may not have felt great in the beginning to undergo the drastic changes in environment that I did, but forcing myself to explore the city was a really fun and beneficial experience in the long run. And yes, chocolate cake is delicious, and that feeling of comfort is necessary in order to call a place home.
Just remember that both the dessert and the vegetables are essential pieces to a good meal.