It's a Sunday and as I lay lounging in my pjs watching the Lions battle the Cowboys, I can't help but wonder how this all happened. How did I fall head over heals, heart pitter-patter, butterflies in my stomach, woozy kind of in love with a city. Detroit, for that matter.
I've always felt a strong attraction to the mystery of Detroit. Beneath the broken down buildings and grimy rubble is something so pure and beautiful; the spirit of survival, of never giving up - because giving up just isn't an option. It's the spectacular strength of resilience. I read that resilience is defined as "that ineffable quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back stronger than ever. Rather than letting failure overcome them and drain their resolve, they find a way to rise from the ashes." Just like a phoenix, Detroit is rising from the ashes. And I find that so inspirationally motivating.
There's an energy to this city, one that's hard to find. To be wrapped up in a blanket of opportunity. And swaddled by a community of individuals who want nothing more than to see people or things or businesses survive and prosper. It's an incubator for ideas and dreams.
I drive the streets and instead of seeing empty rows of storefronts, I see chance. Instead of poverty, I see opportunity. I see hope. I feel revival. Detroiters are tough, we’ve learned the skill of creating something out of nothing.
So, my hope you might ask? To see this once vibrant and thriving city - a city who built roads and cars to help us move our country and humanity forward, will be on top of it once again. Just as your grandparents tell "Remember when…" stories of struggle, we will look back and say, remember when we just kept fighting? God, that was worth it.
I think it's worth mentioning , that as I'm finishing this article the Lions came back in the fourth quarter, scoring 24 points, to win the game 31-30 in the final seconds. How's THAT for some Detroit strength and resilience?