Making My Environment

I used to live in Paris, Corning, New York, northern Indiana, Memphis, Chicago, and Washington DC. In the past two months, I recently made the move to Rochester, New York.

“You make your environment. Your environment does not make you.” — my wise brother

After having lived in so many cities and towns, many of which are world-renowned and easy to find excitement, beauty, and things to love, I came to realize that living in Rochester wasn’t going to be easy. It was going to be up to me to find the excitement, the beauty, and the things to love on my own — without necessarily having it be thrust in my face the way it was in Paris, Chicago, and DC. I came here knowing that I would have to work hard to make my environment because my environment does not make me.

Few people visit Rochester these days and say, “Wow, this is the place for me. I will live here forever.” At least not in recent times after our city took an economic hit during the fall of Eastman Kodak which failed to keep up with the technological revolution and the changing demands of our time.

I look around and see the remnants of what used to be, what once stood as a beautiful, historic, thriving place — I can only imagine what it was like to live in Rochester’s peak. That said, Rochester’s history does not make the city any less beautiful.

The people are friendly, laid-back, kind. The restaurants are homey, local, and diverse. The greenery is stunning, the roads mostly well-maintained, and the spirit of the American people permeates its identity. Rochester, to me, is what most of America looks like outside of cities like DC, NYC, LA, and SF.

In the words of Rochesterians I’ve met outside this city, Rochester is a hidden gem. Rochester natives placed elsewhere envied my move away from the more stressful rat race of booming industry.

So, I created an Instagram page @discover_rochesterny to find a community of Rochester lovers and appreciators, a community of artists, friends, and fellow Rochesterians. I seek to make Rochester my new home, and this page — this personal project — motivates me to open my eyes to the beauty that surrounds me. It’s not evident to the average passerby — the flowers, the shadows, the architecture, the sunset, the humble and modest skyline. But it takes an open mind, resilience, and inspiration. Inspiration from friends who show gratitude through photography. Supporters like my wonderful partner, my family, my friends, and now my small cohort of followers who believe in my mission to make the most of my life here and to adopt and develop an outlook of appreciation, gratitude, and love.

To be human is to seek connection. So join my journey on Instagram at @discover_rochesterny (instagram.com/discover_rochesterny), or shoot me an email at discoverrochesterny@gmail.com. Let’s connect.