The Loop.

I'd never imagine that I'd have a different opinion about 12th street.  

I grew up in rural South Dakota.  The population sign was (and still is) in my front yard.  It reads, "Woonsocket, SD, Population 741."  In high school I was that girl who didn't have a lot of friends, but I had a few really good friends.  One of those good friends lived in Sioux Falls, her name is Chasity.   

Now Chas and I have lost contact throughout the years, but I always look back to my high school years and know that I survived because of her friendship and her location.  I'd visit Chasity as often as possible.  But there was one activity in Sioux Falls that our parents told us explicitly not to do.  So naturally, we did it: cruise the loop.

The loop was made up of 11th and 12th streets - one way streets that looped around.  It was a dangerous-esk area of town.  People would linger, smoke pot or crack or whatever.  Apparently my parents thought that if we cruised the loop we'd become pot-smoking hippies or whores.  

My first perception of 12th street was bias.  I was 16 years old girl, easily influenced by my parents and other adults perceptions.  Their perception became mine.  It's true that a 16 year old girl   

So fast forward 10 years later.  I'm now 26.  That paranoia about downtown SF still lingered.  Until I started working downtown at 6th and Main at Fresh Produce.  

Sure we get our share of sketchy people walking by, but rarely do I ever feel that they'd sell me drugs or murder me.  More often than not, people have said "good morning."  My perceptions changed by going outside my comfort level and learning to block out the negative perceptions of others.  To not be so easily influenced.  These are good words to live by.  Everyone can have their opinion, just don't try to persuade me into believing yours.  Easier said than done.  

I love downtown Sioux Falls - so much culture and history.  We live on west 12th street (not downtown, but it's still on 12th), my kid goes to a daycare center downtown and we do activities and businesses in downtown.  And without the fear of being shot.    

Over the past years, I'm sure downtown Sioux Falls has changed, but what I'm most proud of are the changes that I've made as a person.  I'm able to think for myself and not be influenced by others irrational paranoia.  Maybe that comes with age or maybe I've just grown up.  Or maybe I grew up with crazy people.  Maybe it's all of the above.  For what it's worth we all need to go outside of our comfort area and see it's really not that scary.