I’d be lying if I said that song & John Mellencamp haven’t been stuck in my head all week! I am so excited for this summer because it is already satisfying my craving of a slow midwest summer that I didn’t know I was longing for LOL. I’ve said it a million times but truly nothing beats the midwest in the summer time, or summer in general. The grass is greener, lakes are looking as refreshing as ever, the sunsets are unbeatable & don’t get me started on how many good people are coming to the concert venue down the street (I bought a summer pass oops). It also just smells relaxing, you know what I mean? Is it an everywhere thing to stand outside when a storm is rolling in? I I sure hope, because that smell is unbeatable too. Its been a week and I’m already back in the summertime mindset with windows down/music blaring drives, bonfires with sweet conversations & SO many good photo ops. I find it funny how much I said I wasn’t going to miss this place.
It’s cliche to say, but you really don’t know how much a place means to you until you leave it. My whole life I couldn’t wait to get out of here. Don’t get me wrong I am still so eager to explore the world & live in cool places, but I have a new found gratitude for the place that raised me. I’d always say “Indiana is the worst, there is absolutely nothing to do, why would anyone stick around here,” & yeah honestly there’s not much to do, but that’s kinda what makes home so special. Finding things to entertain you when there isn’t much going on. I have a new found appreciation for the comfort and familiarity Indiana brings me.
In a world that revolves around the fast paced lifestyle & how much you can get done in one day, it can be so incredibly hard to count your blessing, big & small. Honestly for a while I was far too gone in that mindset. In the mindset of I have to go do things right this second, or ill never experience them. After packing up and getting out like I had always planned (although the drives only 4 hours when younger me thought i’d be halfway across the globe) I can proudly say that distance does makes the heart grow founder, and in this case my heart grew founder for the place I so badly wanted out of.
To each their own, every state has nothing to do if you look at it in that way. Yet, there is so much to do here that God blessed us with. I was just blind to these things because I was comparing myself to people that travel all the time or could afford a new experience every hour. Now, everyday I try to look at things just a little different & I encourage y’all do to the same. Maybe God gave us “nothing to do” because He knows that life is what passes when were too busy living (shoutout Zach Bryan for being a lyrical genius).
Since being in the fast paced college kid life for a while, I’m so ready for this summer & all the memories i’ll make without having assignments due at the end of the week. Ugh, only a couple more summer breaks before I’m a full time real world adult (sounds scary). I’m going to try super hard to take these moments in while they last. & try not to stress about the little things. Now, for an awkward midwest goodbye where I extend the ending for too long before I actually commit to leaving. Also its my second year going to the Indy 500 soon, & I cant wait. Okay, okay byeee now!
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