Why I Love Washington

FEELS LIKE HOME HAPPINESS AND

WRITTEN BY MAYOR DONALD SADLER | PHOTO BY BRANDON TESTER

In a nutshell, I love Washington because it’s home. I’ve always found happiness here.

Growing up, I envisioned myself fulfilling my dreams right here. all of the people I admired as a child encouraged me to stay at home and be whatever I wanted. It was hard to think that could happen, growing up in public housing, but these were people who had done what they were telling me to do.

I guess it’s because of them, I believed it was possible. As I grew up I appreciated more and more the joy of walking the streets I grew up in and remembering my childhood. There’s something comforting about walking familiar streets and being able to remember good and bad times that made you who you are at every turn. Washington has always been a good place for me. I love its smallness, its friendliness and the way people in close-knit neighborhoods look out for one another. Now I’m even more amazed that people from all over the world come here and find something that makes them want to call Washington home. That is so odd, yet so cool to me. ⋇