goodbye seattle

Why do you love Seattle?

He paused, then said: Because it's so intertwined with nature.

Over the 8 weeks I spent in Seattle, I experienced what my friend meant by intertwined. From my office window on the 11th floor, I could see mountain ranges stretching across the backdrop of the entire city. There was a downtown park just a 5-minute walk from work, where my friend and I would go after lunch. In the evenings, walking home from the bus stop, I was surrounded by tall pine trees and a golden sunset atop yet another mountain view. And on the weekends, I would explore the natural beauty in and just outside the city - hiking mountain trails, taking ferries, and visiting the national parks.

This fall, living in Seattle - surrounded by towering colored trees and fresh mountain air - I felt at peace in a way I hadn't in a long time. Being in nature reminded me that the world was bigger than everything I'd been caught up in - the disappointment after a failed test or interview, the inadequacy I felt scrolling through social media, the constant pressure to perform.

I wanted to write this as a goodbye to Seattle and as a reminder to myself to spend more time in nature. Especially as I head into another semester, I want to remember that when things get overwhelming, I just need to get outside and reset.