Forever I Love Atlanta

As the end of the first month of 2016 quickly approaches, I sit here reflecting on the journeys I’ve taken and those that are to come. I’ve been to many cities, a few different countries, and my indicator of how much I love a city is always the same: Could I live here?. There have been plenty of places that I’ve been to that I could see myself living in. London. District of Columbia. Nassau. Toronto. And if I were rich, New York City. All of those cities are great in their own right. Plush in many things but none of them has quite stolen my heart like Atlanta, GA.

I know what you’re thinking. You’ve jumped on the Atlanta bandwagon too? You’d pick Atlanta over New York!? Seriously!? The short answer to all of those questions is an emphatic ‘YES’. See here’s the thing. I’ve been in love with Atlanta since my undergraduate trips there for Battle of the Bands with my classmates from PVAMU. My love for the city grew with each trip back. The time I visited my bestie at her alma mater, Spelman College. The time I visited a friend and lived like a true local. The time I went for a Drake and Lil’ Wayne concert (my two favorite rappers). I have had numerous experiences in Atlanta. And it’s hard to explain. It isn’t as though I couldn’t experience these things elsewhere but for some reason the city just spoke to me.

It spoke to the core of who I am and what I strive to be as a person. Atlanta is diverse, rich in culture and history, beautiful, artistic, welcoming…. homey. When I’m there, I feel peace and contentment. The food is soulful and amazing. Atliens experience four seasons unlike where I currently reside. It isn’t slow but just fast enough. It’s a perfect mixture of luxury and moderation. All of these characteristics are extremely basic. But they are all the reasons I left my heart in Atlanta.

What city have you left your heart in? Leave your comments below.