Why I'm Thankful for My Neighborhood

As the years have gone on, this season has become more and more special to me. The aspects that surround Thanksgiving that I once viewed to be a burden as a child (having to hang out with family, cheesy photos, etc.) are now my favorite parts. Is my family full of a bunch of crazies that used to embarrass the crap out me? Absolutely. What’s different as I’ve grown up is that the same things that used to make me blush are now what I’m most thankful for. The pessimists out there will point to the commercialization of this time of year as a bad thing. While I’m not an advocate for it, the constant bombardment does help to keep me consciously aware of what I truly am thankful for. Along with my family and friends, a huge part of what I’m thankful for is our neighborhood.

I’m so thankful that we can walk to anything. If it’s 40 degrees outside and I’ve still somehow got a craving for ice cream, I’ll see you in 10 minutes Little Man. Did we have a little too much fun at HTB’s happy hour? Phew, no car keys needed. It’s not only being able to walk to my favorite restaurants and shops though. I love that you can go for a stroll, meet someone you’ve never seen before, and strike up a friendly conversation. Maybe it’s as simple as them giving you an honest answer to the question “how’re you doing?” Maybe it grows into laughter. Or, maybe it’s just a simple smile. I am definitely thankful for the neighbors that make up the fabric of LoHi.

Not sure if you’ve noticed yet or not, but this place is gorgeous. We’re pretty lucky that through all of the seasons, this place looks fantastic. We’ve got the best views of the city. Parks galore. Massive, mature trees lining the streets. Public works of art. Absurdly cool houses (both old and new). Of course I get caught up in the day-to-day and forget from time to time, but I’m pretty thankful for the aesthetic that has developed over the last century of our neighborhood.

It would be silly to overlook this last bit about what makes the Highland neighborhood so special: everyone is excited to be living here. It’s trendy, hip, blah blah blah. That’s not what I’m talking about, although there is a reason that this place is “trendy”. We’ve got it pretty good here, and I think that’s evident by our ethos. This probably comes off as rambling, but I don’t really care. I’m sappy and thankful, and that’s that.