3 Years in Seattle

Essays
Written By Nathan Box

Journal: February 2014

There are days when I still can't believe I live here. There are moments when I round Alki in the morning and watch the sun rise over downtown that I think my eyes are deceiving me. There are glimpses of Mt. Rainier that make me want to cry. Not out of sadness, but out of sheer and total awe. There are nights when I see the Space Needle driving down I-5 that I think that is mine. That iconic structure belongs to me. There are people I interact with that make me think this is home.

There are moments when I wish I could summon the courage I once had when I decided to move here. There are times I wish that confidence would move me in the direction of the greatest degree of impact. There are times I wish I was still as naive about the world. There are times I wish I was a little less mature. There are times I wish the motivation that drove me here would return.

In a lot of ways, I am not the same person who left Oklahoma three years ago. I still over think, over analyze and occasionally say the inappropriate thing. Without a doubt though, Seattle has changed me. It has removed my cynicism. It has made me more optimistic. Despite what you might read, it has made me more confident. More adventurous. More willing to seize the moment. For these changes, I will be eternally grateful. The Emerald City has been a wonderful teacher.

Thanks for entering my world,

-Nathan

Nathan Box
Hello! My name is Nathan. I've always believed I would meet that special someone in one of two places; either a record store or a book store. Maybe I need to amend? I moved to Seattle in February of 2011 from Oklahoma City (Try and not hold the Sonics/Thunder thing against me). I knew I wanted to work for a nonprofit and go to grad school. Within a couple of months, I was doing both. During the day, I work as a Fund Developer and Community Relations Manager for a nonprofit in Kent and at night I try to stay as busy as possible volunteering, trying new restaurants, finding hidden bars and exploring Seattle. The past few years has been both terrifying and exhilarating. I have done things on my own I didn’t think were within my capability. I love being outdoors. On any given weekend, I can be found hiking, on a road trip, volunteering, at a museum, seeing a movie (I see a lot of them). I am passionate about nonprofit work. I feel called to leave a mark on this world. Nothing against those who enjoy making tons of money, I just need to know I am making a difference.
natetheworld.squarespace.com
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