Chicago

Chicago is a city that wears its history in its architecture, its resilience in its people, and its energy in the wind that whips off Lake Michigan. But for all the gusts rolling in from the lake, the city’s nickname—The Windy City—has little to do with the weather and everything to do with its long tradition of blustery politicians. It is a place shaped by reinvention—built, burned, and rebuilt stronger, always moving forward but never forgetting where it came from.

I find Chicago inspiring because it doesn’t try to be something it’s not—it is bold, straightforward, and unafraid of its contradictions. The grandeur of its skyline is balanced by the down-to-earth character of its neighborhoods, where generations have put down roots and built communities that shape the city as much as its famous landmarks. The winters are brutal, the summers electric, and in between, there are moments of perfect balance—autumn afternoons along the river, spring mornings when the city shakes off the cold. Chicago is a place of industry and innovation, of jazz clubs and dive bars, of high culture and deep-dish pizza. And for me, it’s also the place where I met my wife and where we got married—a city that became more than a backdrop, but part of our story. It doesn’t demand attention, but it holds it, not with spectacle but with substance. For those who embrace it, Chicago is more than a city—it’s a state of mind, built on resilience, ambition, and a relentless belief in its own possibilities.