Back Home: Reflections on Kansas City, Growth & Gratitude
🏡 Back Home: Reflections on Kansas City, Growth & Gratitude 🏙️
By Angel, Founder of AMC Rise and Thrive
Hello beautiful soul 💫
After some time away visiting family, soaking up love, and
indulging in delicious food, I’m finally back home—and it feels so good.
There’s something sacred about sleeping in your own bed,
surrounded by familiar energy. There’s peace in being greeted by your
pets—those sweet souls who patiently wait while you’re away. And there’s a deep
sense of alignment in driving the streets of the city you’ve come to know and
love. For me, that city is Kansas City—my unexpected, adopted home that
has nurtured so much of my growth, healing, and becoming.
🌆 My
Kansas City Journey
I moved to Kansas City back in 2000. At the time, I
wasn’t thrilled about it. Honestly, I didn’t want to be here. I had deep roots
in Chicago, and the idea of starting over in a city that felt so
unfamiliar was daunting.
But as time passed, the unfamiliar became home.
I found a job.
I made friends.
I moved into my own apartment.
For the first time in my adult life, I was on my own—making
decisions without needing anyone’s approval. That independence was
exhilarating. I wasn’t just surviving; I was discovering who I was, what I
wanted, and how to create a life that felt true to me.
I hadn’t even been here a full year when I met the man who
would later become my husband. That meeting sparked a new journey of love,
family, and partnership. Little did I know, this city would witness some of the
most defining seasons of my life.
🌍 A
Different Kind of Midwest
Growing up in Chicago, I was raised in a very segregated
environment. Cultural lines were visible—and rarely crossed. Dating outside
your race or background wasn’t common, and it certainly wasn’t widely accepted
in many neighborhoods.
But Kansas City offered something different.
Here, I saw diversity that didn’t feel performative—it felt authentic.
I saw interracial couples, friendships that defied boundaries, and communities
where cultures blended. It reminded me of that moment in the movie Save the
Last Dance, where two different worlds come together and create something
beautiful. That kind of openness was new to me, and it expanded my view of
love, community, and connection.
📍 Kansas
City: More Than Meets the Eye
One of the most surprising things to outsiders is that Kansas
City is actually two cities:
Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) and Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO).
They’re often thought of as one, but each side of the state
line has its own unique vibe, history, and offerings. Together, they form a
metropolitan area filled with rich culture, deep roots, and Midwestern
magic.
You’ll find dozens of small towns and neighborhoods inside the
I-435 loop. It’s completely normal to cross from Kansas into Missouri
and back again multiple times in a single day depending on your errands, plans,
or favorite restaurants.
🏛️ On the
Missouri Side:
- National
WWI Museum and Memorial – A world-renowned space
honoring those who served and the history of war.
- Union
Station – A beautifully restored historic train
station that hosts science exhibits, holiday events, and more.
- Country
Club Plaza – A shopping district inspired by Spanish
architecture, famous for its lights and fountains.
- Fountains –
Did you know KC is called the City of Fountains? It has more
fountains than any city in the world besides Rome.
- Sports –
Home to the Kansas City Chiefs (GO CHIEFS! 🏈)
and Kansas City Royals ⚾. Our fan base is loyal, loud, and full of
pride.
- Nelson-Atkins
Museum of Art – A stunning museum known for its global art
collection and the iconic shuttlecock sculptures on its lawn.
🚗 On the
Kansas Side:
- Kansas
Speedway – A hub for NASCAR racing and high-speed
thrills.
- University
of Kansas (KU) – Located nearby in Lawrence but deeply
rooted in the metro with hospitals and clinics across the region known for
quality care.
And let’s not forget the barbecue. Whether it’s Joe’s,
Gates, Arthur Bryant’s, Q39, or my personal favorite—Smokehouse—you
haven’t truly lived until you’ve tasted Kansas City BBQ. Definitely try burnt
ends. It’s soul food in the truest sense.
🎰 A City
of Surprises
Kansas City is full of surprises. We have five casinos,
vibrant farmer’s markets, world-class jazz, and a growing arts
scene that inspires and uplifts. The city is diverse, dynamic, and warm in
that cozy way only the Midwest can offer.
Geographically, we sit in the center of the country,
which means you can drive to many surrounding states in just a few hours.
Because of this, KC draws people from everywhere—and the melting pot of
cultures, foods, and ideas makes it even more unique.
But like any city, it has its shadows. Kansas City struggles
with violent crime, and the murder rate per capita is alarmingly
high. There’s still healing needed here. Still systemic change that must take
root. And yet, this city has a spirit of resilience that cannot be
ignored. It rises. It fights. It hopes.
💖 Home Is
Where the Heart Is
Now that I’m back, I feel it more than ever: home is an
energy. It’s peace. It’s walking in the door, placing your bags down, and
whispering to yourself, “I’m right where I belong.”
Kansas City has shaped me.
It has challenged me.
It has expanded me.
Most of all—it has welcomed me.
This city gave me room to grow in ways I never could in
Chicago. It offered opportunities, a slower pace to catch my breath, and the
support I needed to truly rise and thrive. To soften me in a way I never
expected.
For all its imperfections, it has been a blessing.
And for that—I am deeply grateful.
✨
Affirmation of the Day
“I am grounded, supported, and at peace in the
place I call home. I honor my journey and welcome the joy of where I am now.”
📖 Bible Verse (NIV)
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and
a future.”
Wherever you find yourself today—whether returning home,
starting over, or standing still—remember that your path is divinely guided.
Sometimes, home isn’t a place you choose. Sometimes, it chooses you.
🎶 Song of
the Day:
🎵 It's
Alive – Tech N9ne (Explicit) Click below
Atribute to what people think of KC, performed by a local legend who shows deeplove for this city.
🕛 New
blog posts are published every other day at midnight CST.
✨ Explore the journey, share in
the healing, and rediscover your light one post at a time.
🔗 Visit
the Blog Archive & Resource Hub
Revisit past reflections or dive into a topic that speaks to your soul.
With heartfelt gratitude and grounded love,
Angel
Founder of AMC Rise and Thrive
🌿 Healing,
growth, and soulful reflection—one post at a time.
#MidwestMagic #KansasCityLove #HealingAtHome #HomecomingVibes #AMCRiseAndThrive
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