I am grateful that my life has afforded me the opportunity to live in different regions of the United States. I spent my first 18 years, plus several summers and one bonus year, living in the Midwest. I had 3 different spurts, totaling 11 years, living on the East Coast. And then I have lived in the Mountain West for around 15 years.
I'm grateful to have experienced particular things in each region. In the Midwest, I'm grateful for the wide open plains, the way communities come together and support each other, and the slower pace of life. On the East Coast, I'm grateful for all the trees!!, the thicker sense of history, the culture found in museums and restaurants and shops that come with the bulk of population being located back East, and the bolder and brasher way people relate to each other. In the mountain west, I love the beautiful mountains, the laid back west coast vibe, and the appreciation of individuality and freedom. I'm grateful to see the enormous geographic and sociological diversity that exists within the United States.
And even with the significant differences among region, I'm also grateful to see some of the things that are common across all the regions. There is of course McDonalds and Starbucks everywhere you go, but there are also parks and libraries and churches; there is generally a chance at economic prosperity and a safety net for the most vulnerable; and a government that helps administer life and keep us safe while also allowing us to keep our fundamental freedoms.
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