Some mornings I wake before the sun colors the lake, slip on my purple Prada sneakers, and head out the door with no destination beyond around the block. That short loop regularly delivers as much wonder as any passport stamp. Welcome to my Streeterville Stroll, a daily practice in Happily Ever Always™ observation.
The Underpass Epiphany
For me, summer starts at the Lake Shore Drive underpass. One minute I’m among glass towers; the next, waves slap the seawall and gulls echo overhead. Crossing beneath the traffic is like entering a portal: city urgency dissolves into shoreline serenity. I pause to watch runners trace the horizon or sailboats tack toward the harbor. In those seconds I often solve a design puzzle—What if I echoed that sail-white in a staging vignette? —because calm brings clarity.
Park Benches as Classrooms
Lake Shore Park and petite Seneca Park are my outdoor living rooms. I sit, let the birds supply the soundtrack, and study passing faces: parents juggling lattes and scooters, medical students in scrubs, a retired couple strolling hand-in-hand. Their small gestures remind me why gracious service matters—everyone carries a story. A broker who forgets that can’t genuinely champion a client’s next chapter.
Small-Business Breadcrumbs
I thread north toward Jeni’s Ice Cream, admiring newly planted sidewalk beds or a café’s fresh awning. I ask the barista about the paint color on the façade (mental note: perfect hue for a future accent wall) and sample the Brown Butter Almond Brittle because curiosity should feed every sense. Each storefront tells me something about neighborhood rhythm—the pop-up Pilates studio signals rising wellness demand, the tiny florist hints at Saturday wedding traffic. Micro-intel that shapes pricing conversations and marketing angles later in the office.
Architectural Daydreaming
Evening loops pull me past stately pre-wars and shimmering contemporary towers. I tilt my head skyward and imagine floor plans: Does that corner unit hold a library with lake views? How might someone place a dining table to catch sunset reflections? Wonder fuels expertise; by picturing lives behind façades, I stay alert to how design meets emotion—a skill that helps buyers see “home” before they hold keys.
A Masterclass in Plain-Sight Magic
Walking Streeterville isn’t exercise; it’s deliberate mindfulness practice. Here’s my recipe:
- Slow Your Pace. Pretend you have nowhere urgent to be.
- Engage All Senses. Note baking bread, jazz spilling from a balcony, sun glinting off a mirrored lobby.
- Ask Open-Ended Questions. Who curates that custom jeweler’s window? Why did that homeowner choose cerulean shutters?
- Collect, Don’t Consume. You don’t need to buy every trinket—just pocket the inspiration.
- Translate Immediately. Jot one idea before bed: a color, texture, or human interaction worth weaving into tomorrow’s work or table setting.
Wonder Doesn’t Need a Boarding Pass
I adore far-flung travel, but awe is not location locked. A scoop of ice cream on Wabash can refresh perspective as surely as a Tuscan vista, provided I notice. That noticing—of birdsong, façades, or conversations at dusk—keeps my creative well full and my spirit anchored to gratitude.
So next time you crave novelty, step outside and loop your own block with beginner’s eyes. Marvel at how the ordinary shapeshifts when greeted with attention. You might discover, as I do on every Streeterville Stroll, that Happily Ever Always™ starts precisely where your feet already stand.