Inspiration, Gumball and Kiplinger

I wish I had some great excuse for why I haven’t posted since I’ve been to DC but the real reason is simple; I’ve lacked inspiration up until now. While DC is chalked full of awesome things to do, I’ve had a hard time finding my place here thus far. I have done amazing things with amazing people, such as seen John Mayer and Arcade Fire play outdoor concerts, gone tubing on the Shenandoah River, played and danced by the monuments at night and other such great things. However, still in this month here, something is missing.

In Lansing, because I was connected to so many great groups of people, movements and initiatives, such as Gumball, YSG, the TIC, etc. I felt like my life had purpose well beyond achieving 4.0s in all my classes. In DC, despite the abundance of nightlife and culture and the steady job I have, I haven’t felt that connection or purpose outside of my work yet. Everyone keeps telling me it comes with time, but I also know I have to continue to be proactive to make it happen. Last week, I connected with other recent MSU grads, who surprisingly felt very similarly. With this small group, I am making my own Gumball group here in order to fill the void left by leaving the best group of motivators I’ve ever had in my life.

For those of you who do not know what Gumball is, you probably think I’m crazy. Gumball started as a small group of committed and driven young adults, who felt they didn’t quite fit into the typical confines of a University club or group. Instead the students worked outside of the system, meeting at Harpers, a local restaurant and bar, every Friday at 5 to discuss different start-ups, projects, events, initiatives, etc. that they were working on. Typical discussions revolved around collaborating to resolve conflicts or roadblocks these individuals faced. Within the group and the group’s contacts, students and recent graduates were able to create some of the best spider webs of networks of anyone at Michigan State University or in the greater Lansing region. Individuals also motivated the other individuals to remain committed to what they were working on and to act on the great ideas floated around the group. While I’m not sure what this new #gumballDC will bring, I feel pretty confident that it could organically grow into not an exact copy of my old gumball group, but a new unique and inspiring group of individuals.

I know some people can feel inspired after listening to a great song, seeing a great piece of architecture or reading a stimulating book; I don’t. Plain and simple, I’m inspired and motivated by those around me, individuals that push me to find meaning in my life outside of my 8-6 by becoming involved in my community and by being part of a solution to challenges and threats all around me.

I know many in this country and even Michigan found it surprising that Kiplinger magazine named Lansing as one of the top 10 cities for young adults, but I don’t. For young individuals looking to be a part of something, like the change in Michigan from a manufacturing based economy to one characterized by small businesses, creativity and technology, Lansing is the place to be. A city can have amazing culture and nightlife, awesome architecture, abundant jobs and all the other right statistics but if it doesn’t have the intangibles of inspiration and meaning, it’s not going to feel like home for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think I can find what I’m looking for here in DC but like my mother says, “it’s going to take time,” and well, effort on my part. Inspiration and motivation isn’t something that just walks up to you and says hello, sometimes you have to look for it.

If you want to read more about YSG, Gumball and other movements in the greater Lansing region, I suggest you check out these articles:

http://www.capitalgainsmedia.com/features/ysglansing0347.aspx… all about YSG in Lansing.

http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/02/from_recession_to_reinvention… featuring Gumball and my friend Eric!

My cousin and I at Jazz in the Sculpture Gardens

Explaining the Midwest to Outsiders

While traveling across the country and Canada, I met a lot of people from abroad (mainly Australia and England). Inevitably the conversation, “where are you from” always came up. So the quick answer was always Wisconsin but it usually turned to I’ve lived in Michigan for the past four years and will now be in D.C. for awhile, etc. etc. My answer was predictably followed up with well what the heck is Michigan and Wisconsin like, or in other words what is the Midwest like?

I usually mumbled something like well Wisconsin is known for its cheese, beer and brats and Michigan is known for its failing auto industry… but I still really liked living there! Big fail on my part. 1. I’m lactose intolerant. 2. Wisconsin is known for Miller, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Milwaukee’s Best… not exactly the classiest of beers. 3. I’m a vegetarian. 4. I’ve been working to help spur innovation and thus diversify Michigan’s economy away from the auto industry for the past two years. I actually love the Midwest and would not have wanted to grow up or go to school anywhere else in the country, so I don’t know why I made it seem like the worst possible place to live in the country.

Many of the people I had met on the trip had no idea about the Midwest (one even asked if it was next to Nevada) and based on my awful descriptions, I made sure they were never going to visit there. Most of the people I met were young adults, ready for an adventure and could be easily impressionable with one REALLY good description of the cities and places I love. Talking with my friends, many of them said they did a similar thing with making the Midwest seem like a place just for farmers. Maybe we get intimidated by these foreigners, who have not only lived in what we consider exotic awesome places, but have also travelled to the hippest and coolest cities in the U.S., like Vegas, San Francisco and New York. Well, I guess it’s time to start standing up for what we love, even against the big hot cities.

If I got a second chance here’s my rebuttal explaining the Midwest and in particular my hometown Cedarburg, Milwaukee and Lansing.

First, the people are nicer and happier here. Sure, that’s a sweeping generalization but I have found that in general people are much less pretentious.  My friends, colleagues and mentors are accomplishing amazing things to prepare for the harsh transition away from the manufacturing hub the Midwest once was. However, you oftentimes would never know it because they shy away from press releases gloating over their small but pretty phenomenal accomplishments. As my friend Emily said, “If the East Coast is full of uptight, cut throat people and the West Coast is uber laid back, the Midwest is the perfect middle.” Sure, every now and then you’ll get your crabby waitress but in general, you’re much more likely to have a stranger say hi to you on the street, have the coffee barista remember your name, or meet an accomplished CEO, who’s willing to talk to you about your future and not gloat about his or her own successes.

Second, there is ample access to the beautiful outdoors. In the summer, I can drive a few hours to the cottage in Crivitz, Wisconsin and enjoy a long weekend boating, jet-skiing and paddle boating on the lake. Lake Michigan is always there to provide ample lake fun, no matter if you are in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois or Wisconsin. In the Midwest in the fall, the leaves change the best colors and walking outside of your house and down the street guarantees you a breath-taking “my life is wonderful” moment. In the winter, downhill and cross country skiing hills and trails are easily accessible, as is a snowshoe hike around the lake. Also there’s real outdoor ice skating and pond hockey, none of that fake stuff! In the spring, I like to take advantage of the snow melt and significant rainfall and go kayaking or rafting. No matter where you are or what time of the year it is, in the Midwest you have guaranteed access to the fun and aesthetic outdoors.

Hiking in Kettle Moraine State Park 2007

Third, there is space to live here. While you can choose to live in a crammed apartment or condo complex, you almost always have an affordable house option with some sort of back yard! Try finding that in a big city! I can go running without the threat of being run over by bikes or the more aggressive runners because there is ample space for everyone getting out exercising. If I go to a coffee shop, I don’t wait in line for 20 minutes to have someone spill their coffee on me in their rush to get to whatever important place they need to be.

Fourth, we celebrate everything. I have been to the Asparagus Festival in Empire, Michigan in May, the Strawberry Festival in Cedarburg, Wisconsin in June and the Festival of the Moon and Sun in Lansing, Michigan, as well as many others. I’ve also been at some of the larger festivals, like Summerfest, the world’s largest musical festival that lasts for 11 days and hosts over 800 artists.

Summerfest 2007

Sports teams are also held in reverence and games are a guaranteed celebration, usually win or lose. From tailgating at Big Ten Football games (both for the Badgers and the Spartans, just not the Wolverines), to Brewer’s games at Miller Stadium, to minor league Lugnuts baseball games in Lansing, various Midwest sporting events have been the pinnacle of my young adult life.

Wisconsin versus Michigan State Game 2009

Milwaukee Brewers Game in 2008

Lastly, you can see the stars in the Midwest. Enough said there.

For someone who has barely ever gotten a B in her life (Huyi Hu- I’m still mad about that grade), I let myself get a big fat F on my first explanation. I got intimidated and fell back on short negative publicity quips about the places I love most. I know a lot of wonderful people choosing to live in the Midwest and I’m sure their reasoning for why they love it differs from mine but I’m guessing it’s similar. We just have to make sure we’re appropriately conveying the things we love to others. I realized it’s easy to get embarrassed about the Midwest taglines, but c’mon, I know that there’s a lot more depth hidden behind those awful one liners.

Omaha, Nebraska: Can One Good Block Make a City?

So I had pretty low expectations for Omaha… it’s in Nebraska and sounds so unsexy. However, my friend was interning out there and it was a convenient stop on our way to Fort Collins, Colorado, where we have relatives.  So my brother and I got there around five, driving through their high-rise business district downtown. I was immediately impressed by the actual number of active and vibrant skyscrapers and businesses in the downtown. We shortly dropped our stuff off at my friend’s overly cozy one bedroom apartment and headed downtown. I have to admit I was still skeptical of what the happy hour and nightlife would be like cause while driving in while we saw businesses, I still hadn’t really seen a place I’d be comfortable having a drink on the patio. When we landed at Blue, a sophisticated sushi lounge, I was more than impressed. As we continued on into the night roaming from different restaurant and bar and even down the riverfront, I found there were as diverse restaurants as a classy little French restaurant to a bar with 1.50 beers. Each place had its own unique feel and nothing felt like a pre-packaged cliché bar or restaurant.

The next day on our way out, we stopped at a wonderful farmer’s market and picked up some breakfast and food for the rest of the trip. There was some kind of adventure race happening at the same time because people of all ages and sizes were dressed in crazy outfits running around the place. It was definitely a perfect Saturday morning to me. Overall, Omaha seemed like the perfect Midwest Gem. The city has found a way to transition itself into what appeared to me a totally cosmopolitan city while keeping its unique feel.  I almost felt like I was back in DC with its global, sophisticated and high-end feel, except the prices were 50% less  and the service was 50% better.

The one caveat? All of this took place in a span of less than a probably about a quarter of a mile in a place called Old Market. I asked around if there were really other places to go out in and most responded negatively. While I’d love to live in a place like the downtown I went out in, I’m not convinced that I wouldn’t get bored with that span of 15 or so awesome restaurants and nothing else. What do you think?