North Dakota

Upper Midwest, USA. While some see only a barren wasteland, to me there’s something remarkable about its “barrenness.” Glimpses of raw beauty mixed with the humbling effect of wide open grasslands that meet striking monuments—the badlands.

There are many places in the world that get a lot of love. North Dakota? Hardly. Oil, beer, and domestic violence. Our Midwest commodities. And virtues? Almost as many as our vices.

It’s easy to disparage the places we’re from. There’s always greener pastures (and trees!) elsewhere. But sometimes, our efforts to get out of “nowhere” lead us back to somewhere. For me, North Dakota has been a refuge to grow, learn, and heal. It’s been home. And I’m deeply grateful for it.