It is Saturday morning and I just completed a 45 minute power walk in my neighborhood.  It was a quiet walk.  I took a different route this morning and veered into a neighborhood north of mine.  It is the Cathedral Neighborhood just north of 18th Street and Central Avenue.  It is a beautiful neighborhood that surrounds the Resurrection Catholic School.  This neighborhood does not have the trash problems like my neighborhood and that the lawns and landscaping are immaculate. Many people in that neighborhood were raised in this area and have remained here as adults. 

When I first moved into this area, I would never go out for walks.  I played it safe and had no desire to venture far from my house.  The biggest reason I stayed close to home was fear...fear of the unknown.  What if I would get lost?  What if someone approached me that was inappropriate?  If you live your life by WHAT IFS...you miss out on a lot in life.  Fear is very powerful thing.  It can stifle you and hold you back!  If it was not for my husband...I know I would be living a stagnant life.  He has always nudged me to accomplish many great things and two of things included moving into this neighborhood and finishing my college degree.  I am the type of person that likes to dig in her heels and not move one inch due to fear.  Isn't that sad?   

I wanted to share that perception is not always reality.  When it comes to living in an urban neighborhood, there are negative perceptions in the media, word of mouth and etc.  Do things happen here in this area...yes, but they also happen in every city in the surrounding Kansas City area.  Those of us that live in an urban area play outside, sit on our front porches, and share life like anyone else.  I can tell you that my family lives a very rewarding and satisfying life just like families do in a suburban area.  We are here to stay...we are here to make a difference...and we are here to serve. 

In closing, I wan to extend a SPECIAL INVITE to anyone following this blog...if any of you ever want to visit my neighborhood and see what I am writing about...you are invited!.  During your visit, we could stop by the local Mexican Ice Cream store and then sit on my front porch and have a wonderful visit.  Also, my church, Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, is a bi-lingual church in which everything is translated in English and Spanish.  If you would like to experience a bi-lingual service...let me know and you can join in the  fellowship and fun of the church congregation.