It's been just over a month. Here's a list of things I have learned from Chicago and my Chicago loves in the past 14 months* of being a true Chicagoan.
*non-consecutive, sorry October 2013.
I save $30 a week because I started riding my bike. There's no need for public transit on a daily basis, and when you do have to travel a significant amount you have a little extra money for a cab OR just take public trans. However, when owning a bike in Chicago you should have two locks, one for your front tire (cable lock suggested) and one for the frame of your bike (indestructible u-lock suggested).
2. Pets are important to your well-being.
I don't care who you are, having a creature that is always undeniably pleased you are home does wonders for your self-worth. I was in quite a funk right before I craigslisted George the cat back in February and having him around changed things in ways I can't explain. I know that even though my boyfriend (yup, that same guy from the 37-hour date-a-thon) is terribly allergic to George, he secretly enjoys being greeted by the little creature when he comes over.
3. Your shitty job is nothing to be ashamed of.
Most of my friends are artists. Most of my friends get $0 for their art. Most of my friends (myself included) have jobs that are not exactly their passion but we all have bills to pay and loans to weep over. As long as your job allows you the time to pursue your passions, you should not feel ashamed. I have to give myself a pep-talk every time a patron at work asks, "So do you go to school or...." like where I am right now in life is just not good enough for them. This is a hard lesson to learn and I frequently forget it.
4. Dive bars are the best thing.
$4 well vodka cranberry? $2.50 for PBR? This stool is kind of sticky but sign me up!
5. Dive bars are the worst thing after 2am.
$4 well vodka cranberry? $2.50 for PBR? This stool is kind of sticky but I think I'll rest my head here anyway.
6. Surround yourself with positive people.
This is not an original idea but it is something I actually have grown to appreciate. The people I am surrounded with in Chicago are absolutely amazing. When a basement floods and you can laugh in disbelief with the people cleaning it, you know you have some great company. I have a hard time staying positive, and I know that sometimes my friends do as well, but as long as you have a few people that can build you back up life will be okay.
7. Chicago will try to kill you.
Literally. Attempted hypothermia. Attempted drowning. Attempted heat-stroke. Attempted electrocution. Attempted tornado. If you read the news at all, Chicago has been recently nationally recognized for all the gun violence. The weather is insane. A good amount of the people are insane. This leads me to my next point....
8. You will love this city because of how much you hate it.
It's really an unhealthy relationship. I'm prepared to move from Chicago sometime in the next year because it's exhausting, but I know I'll miss it like crazy and always claim to be from Chicago.
9. The people that make the biggest impact on your life rarely realize it.
I gave Chicago a second chance after my month long hiatus in the suburbs because of something one of my friends doesn't even remember saying while he was piss drunk. I was telling him that I was just barely getting by in the city and I wanted to get out. He told me (paraphrasing here) that everyone is just barely getting by, but we're all just getting by together and that's the beauty of the thing.
10. Everything is about your attitude.
I can have a pretty piss-poor attitude at times and that's lead to some nasty days. Life is hard and sometimes it's okay to be cranky. A positive attitude is easy if you try to keep with lesson #6. Waking up and telling yourself that this day will be a good day is the most important thing you can do.
