Dear Chicago

//My incredible Chicago girl squad//

Dear Chicago,

It seems like just yesterday I was writing about my big move to Austin, and now, here I am desperately holding back (happy, bittersweet) tears on the plane. In just a few hours I’ll have a new place to call home. It’s one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. But God help me if I didn’t do things that scared the shit out of me.

But this post isn’t about me. It’s about this city, this incredible city that shaped me into the person I am today. This city that gave me the space to grow up, and, at the risk of sounding like a complete nerd, “find myself”.

But most importantly, this post is about the people this city gave me. Two days ago, Q and I hosted our going away party and we had so many friends come by and wish us well. In that moment, and frankly every moment since, I’ve felt a sense of pride in this family we’ve built over the last eight years. This talented, dynamic, loving, supportive, ride or die crew that has enriched our lives during our tenure in Chicago has been one of my greatest blessings.

Which of course makes saying goodbye that much harder.

As many of us know, saying goodbye to something “eh” is easy. It’s letting go of something so good that’s hard.

So thank you. Thank you for being so hard to say goodbye to.

Thank you for the happy tears, the belly laughs, and bear hugs. Thank you for the late nights, and early mornings, and every second in between. But most importantly, thank you for the support.

I have a whole new appreciation for living without regret and taking chances. It takes courage. A muscle we often don’t exercise in everyday life. Support from you, our Chicago family, makes flexing that muscle a little bit easier.

I’ll leave you with this.

When I look back at my years spent in Chicago, I really, truly feel like I lived the shit out of the city. I’m not leaving wishing I had done more of this, or regretting I didn’t see more of that.

So to my Chicago squad and all the people reading this, remember to LIVE. Take every moment  and every opportunity to live your life to the absolute fullest. Exhaust yourself seeing and doing everything you want to see and do. And when the moment comes to say goodbye, cry. Cry because your life was so good.

Ok…I’m gonna go cry now.

Love.

Meredith