My husband and I have recently returned back to Fort Worth after spending a year in Arlington. Although it’s only a few miles and half an hour away, the atmosphere is different. It’s astounding what the culture of a city can have on your life and we quickly realized that Fort Worth is where we belong. So what makes Fort Worth so wonderful that we feel at peace there?
1. The Spiritual Focus. With all of the amusement parks and tourists looming in Arlington, it’s difficult to find a spiritual niche. Our church, City Life Center, is in the middle of the downtown area and is home to a diverse population. My spirituality is an important facet of my life and knowing that there is a place for that side of me right here in my city makes this home more so than anything else can accomplish.
2. Blue Zoning Project. In case you haven’t heard of this amazing new venture, the Blue Zone Project attempts to find cities that are capable of achieving holistic health and helps them in improving their way of life– healthy food options, implementing exercise into your routine, growing your spirituality and making it all easily within your reach. Not only will this boost the Fort Worth economy, but it will increase the overall well-being of the Fort Worth people.
3. Health Mindedness. Gyms close to the downtown area, bikes for rent throughout the Fort Worth, Trinity River Trails spread throughout … And you aren’t considered the crazy one for being a health nut! It’s so much easier to be conscious of your health when everyone around you is focused on their health, too.
4. Beautiful skyline. Original architecture woven with high skyscrapers, trees and plants, bustling nightlife– this city is gorgeous at night and unlike many downtown areas, there isn’t a reek in the air (in fact, the smell in the air is of the magnolia trees that line many of the streets).
5. Safety. I’m not naive over the fact that Fort Worth has it’s fair share of crime, but walking down the streets at night, I feel safe. My husband and I walk to Sundance Square and there isn’t this apprehension over passing people in the street– if you go there even on a weeknight, there are locals in the square, events downtown and a sense of community that you simply don’t see in downtown areas.
6. Compassion and “others-focused”. Fort Worth is in the process of becoming “The Most Compassionate City”. Of all the traits that the leaders of Fort Worth want associated with their city, compassion is one that I can be proud of as they promote the entire community coming together. They host city-wide volunteer events to better not only this city, but the world (The Fort Worth Hunger Project, for example).
We have missed this city and the wealth of friends we’ve left behind, but we are excited to establish ourselves back here and get back in the groove of city life