Be inspired

Growing up in Detroit, I thought it was the biggest place in the world. Downtown wasn’t a destination for me—it was simply a pass-through on the way to school. On rare occasions, I’d find myself at Hudson’s, attending a concert at The Fox Theatre, or dressed up for a party at The State Theatre—now The Fillmore. But beyond those special outings, Detroit never felt like it held many options for me.

When I married and moved to the Chicago area, Detroit seemed even smaller by comparison. Chicago pulsed with life, opportunities, and energy that Detroit, at the time, felt like it lacked. For thirty years, my visits home were strictly for family. The thought of moving back—or even seeing the city as a place of possibility—never crossed my mind.

This weekend has shifted that perspective. I’m staying in a small boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Detroit, a part of the city I once avoided after dark. Last night I walked to a bar down the street for dinner, and this morning I strolled to a café for breakfast. I’ve watched crowds of people fill the sidewalks with a vibrancy I never associated with Detroit. The city I knew has transformed, at least downtown.

And here’s the surprising part—it feels good. Not just for the city, but for the people it serves, and for my own children who are now young adults shaping their paths. Once, I wouldn’t have thought to suggest Detroit as an option for them. Today, I would.

But as I sit with this realization, I wonder: is it only Detroit that has changed? Or is it me?

I’m not the same woman who left all those years ago. Marriage, motherhood, and decades of work have stretched me, tested me, and grown me. Life has broadened my perspective, making me more open to possibility rather than clinging to the familiar. Some people my age become more set in their ways. I’ve found the opposite to be true—I’ve loosened my grip, made more space, and embraced the unknown. Perhaps that’s why I can see Detroit differently now. The city has grown, but so have I.

There’s something powerful about continuing to build and grow, no matter your age or stage in life. When we allow our minds and perspectives to expand, we learn to embrace new ideas and see opportunity where once we saw only limits. Even if your world feels small—like mine once did—you can stretch beyond it.

I’ve made a decision not to be fixed in my ways, but to keep reaching, discovering, and becoming. I want to draw inspiration not just from places I know, but from places I’ve yet to go.

And I hope you’ll join me. Don’t wait for change to come to you—seek it out. Let yourself be surprised by what you discover, not only in the world around you but also within yourself.