Find Your Petri Dish

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We’re all different. Wow, that’s a revelation. No, seriously, what gets our motors running varies from person to person. For me, I like the city. Hanging out in “The City” this weekend, meaning the Big Apple reminds me that an intense urban environment stimulates my desire for creativity and passion. Now, I have friends that absolutely hate the city, preferring the solitude of a lakeside dock and utter quiet. Other friends would be just as happy sitting on their deck with a cold one watching a Patriots game. For each his own; you be you and I’ll be me.

What is it about the city that stimulates me? This is a question I was asking myself last night while dining in Hell’s Kitchen. The level of energy and diversity clearly are attributes that come to mind. But I think it’s much deeper than that. In contrast to the sea of humanity that rolls like a tsunami down the streets of NYC, I can get lost in this city. Being anonymous and invisible when surrounded by so many people at first glance seems a contradiction. As I take in the myriad of sights, sounds and smells, I realize that I blend into the environment. I’m a ghost to most as I play voyeur to humanity and civilization. In other words, I can be alone in the city without really being alone. For me, that beats being alone when you’re really alone.

My wife tells me that if I lived in a big city, it would soon grow old on me. She may be right, but I don’t think so. When the sensory overload gets too much, I could always escape to the countryside and let nature calm my soul. But then I would need to return to the city like an aging boxer returning to the ring. I may get my butt kicked, but I’m in the game and for me that matters. For me the alternative is to shrivel up and die. So, find the environment that’s your petri dish, where you can seed and grow your ideas into something exciting and fulfilling. It’s your calling, so start listening. So, what is the environment that ignites your passions? I would like to know.