Pursuing the Light

This morning, you can feel autumn in the air. It's a sunny 59 degrees, but it's beginning to scream for hoodies and falling leaves. This morning, in the spirit of autumn, I celebrated with a mug of cinnamon hot cocoa. Autumn is such a beautiful thing to celebrate.
Yesterday, I went on yet another bike ride through downtown Flint. I do this often. We visited the concrete playground, and raced through sidewalks adjoined to the cobblestone streets.
It doesn't always feel safe in Flint. I'm definitely not afraid of my beloved city, but being the human that I am, it's not hard to become mildly nervous.
I do something nearly unheard of when people make me nervous.
I say "hi" to the aforementioned people. The guy with so much swag his pants are to his knees?
"Hello!"
The lady who looks like she is getting ready to go kill someone, or maybe cry?
"Good morning!"
Let's be logical. EVEN IF we assume that people in Flint are as bloodthirsty as they're rumored to be, then the one thing that would keep a person safe is this: be kind to them.
If they're looking for someone to kill, the last person they're going to choose is the person that smiled at them and wished them a good day.
People love kind people.
Maybe you don't feel safe in this lovely city. Find the people that make you afraid and say hello. Just smile. Be the light you want to see in the people around you. Perhaps you'll find people are not nearly as scary as you thought.

A Touch of Unexpected Culture

Who would think that of all things, a crepe shop would be thriving in downtown Flint? Logically, it makes little to no sense.
Flint people are not expected to be cultured individuals. If we're cultured in anything, it's going to be shooting people and doing drugs.
Somehow, business is booming in a little bicycle-themed crepe shop on Saginaw Street. I can tell you first hand that the crepes are to die for. They'll put just about whatever you want on them. The staff is incredibly kind, and their cash register doubles as an iPad.
Go check them out. Everything about the place screams "CHARMING!"
The citizens of Flint love crepes, which is beyond unexpected.
In a way, it's also quite beautiful.
You can see pictures from my outing to the crepe shop and my daily life on my instagram: therealisi