u/asapmort

Dinner is creamy red pepper rigatoni with basil and shredded cheese. Yum.

I've (27f) been with my boyfriend (24m) for about a year and a half now. It wasn't until he moved in with me that I started noticing he really had a problem with drinking. And I'm not really one to judge someone's entire character based on their habits. I too have struggled with addiction in my past. Thankfully, that was like 8 years ago.

But I know firsthand how hard it is to walk away from your drug of choice. So I had low hopes of things getting better. I gradually started mentioning how concerning it had become over the course of our relationship. I've known a lot of alcoholics in my life, but I'd never met someone who just takes Everclear to the face with no expression of disgust like he did. Daily! Ya girl was worried about his liver.

And of course, there were times when he'd be mean and not remember it the next day. Over time, it just built up. I just wanted to see him doing better for himself. I know you might be judging me for sticking around, but he is honestly the only person in this entire city that really knows me. I moved to a city where I knew no one and met him soon after. I just desperately wanted things to go back to the way they were when we met.

Well, I broke down recently and the tears just started pouring. I told him I know there's a good guy in there, I've met him. I fell in love with him. But he disappears behind the bottle. He was actually very receptive and abruptly stopped. Like hasn't had a drop since. I'm surprised, and impressed. I had to go to rehab 3 times before I called it quits.

I'm just really happy that he found it within himself to leave it behind. It hasn't been long, but it feels like a dark cloud has dissipated. He seems happier. We've been spending more quality time together. I know that relapse is a possibility, but after seeing progress I know that recovery is too. Just wanted to tell someone that, I guess. Thanks for reading.

The pasta was homemade and very yummy.

Super cool place, the owner seems really nice and you can watch demonstrations of them making the candy at the top of each hour. The candies have a nice variety of flavors that are rotated often. I'm very much enjoying what I bought from there, I recommend stopping by if you're ever in the Willoughby area! Its always nice to support a local business, too.

Some friends and I went to two candy shops over the weekend!

First stop was Jeff's Candy Shop in Willoughby, OH! They have a nice selection of house-made hard candies and even show a demonstration of them making it! Was really cool to see the process. I got the 4 tins shown at the bottom of the photo from this store. I wish they had the black currant flavor I'd tried before. it was the best candy I've ever tried.

Second was BA Sweeties, one of the largest candy stores in North America! Had to stock up on some classic favorites.

I'm obsessed, that's all

If you're in the Cleveland area, I definitely recommend my nail tech, Riley Arth!

I love my nail tech! She does an amazing job every time 😍

I've been obsessed with the silver chrome look lately.

So around 3 years ago, I bought a concert ticket in Cleveland, not ever having heard of this place. I thought, Ohio is right next to Kentucky, how far could it be? Turns out, I made a 7 hour drive to see one of my favorite artists at the House of Blues. I had never even paid any attention to Ohio, much less Cleveland, didn't even realize it was at the very top of the state. I remember seeing the lake and thinking, what the fuck is that??? An ocean in Ohio? Lol.

Anyways, what I didn't realize is that this spontaneous decision would change my entire life. Once I stepped foot in this city, I knew this is where I wanted to be. Such a distinct vibe about this place. Granted, I hadn't traveled much at this point, but I fell in love. The atmosphere, the lake, the parks, the people, the cute little small businesses, the variety of neighborhoods and the overall culture of a rust belt, great lake city.

I can't tell you how many people look at me CRAZY when they asked why I moved here and my answer is simply "because I fuck with Cleveland." I get it, being born here, it's nothing new! Nothing really too special. But for me, someone from a small town in Kentucky, something about this city led me to the realization that life could be so different.

After a year or so of researching everything I could find about this city, it's past, it's present, it's potential to grow in the future? I had made my decision. Two years ago, I finally made it happen. I used the rest of what I had in savings and what little hope I had for a better future for myself and I came up here knowing NOBODY.

Before I came here, I was so lost. I had lost someone to fentanyl and dropped out of college and spent a lot of my savings out of sheer depression and unwillingness to go on in a world that felt so hopeless. I had overcome an addiction in my hometown and despite years of recovery, I could never outgrow the reputation I had unfortunately earned myself while I was an addict. I thought I would never have another chance in life.

Cleveland has its flaws for sure, but it's given me the hope I needed to keep it pushing. Something about the vibrant communities full of young people with creative aspirations rather than being in a town full of mostly retired white folk just sparked my faith in humanity again. I wanted to be among the people grinding in this city to make a better life for themselves. Two years ago today, I made that leap. And it's been hard and lonely at times, the winters have tested me, I've had to really put myself out there to attend events alone and make some friends. But man, do I owe my life to this city. I'm now enrolled in college again, I found good jobs that never would've been available to me in my hometown, I've seen my favorite artists live right here in this city, I've met amazing people and I experienced the warmest welcome by so many kind strangers.

I just wanted to share my little story of how Cleveland has improved the life of someone who was very close to giving up before I gave this a shot. Cleveland made me believe that life could really be different, and for the last 2 years, it has been. And for that I'm so grateful.

TLDR: Cleveland gave a very sad girl some hope for a better life, and I've spent the last 2 years appreciating everything it has to offer

As I sit at my office job, in my cubicle all day (looking forward to going home and playing Stardew) I can't help but think of the beginning to the game. It sums up my feelings of working my life away to a T. I wish I could inherit a farm in a cute village of folks.

Also, shout out to ConcernedApe for creating something so adorable and unique that it genuinely snaps me out of my spiraling depression when I load it up.

My life has changed so much since I moved here from a small town in Kentucky. I honestly tear up thinking of the hope this city has given me. I went from thinking life was pointless to now finding the drive to go back to school, get better jobs, take better care of myself, find new friends and make life meaningful again. And Cleveland makes that easy to do. If you're not from Cleveland, and you moved here like me- you probably know what I mean when I say that northeast Ohio just has a different energy about it.

My mom came to visit me for the first time since I moved here 2 years ago, and she could not believe the beauty and culture this place had to offer. I showed her the lake, the river, the art museum, West side market, the Cleveland signs, everything I love about this place that I could fit into one weekend. She agreed that there is just something about this city that fills you with hope.

Thank you to everyone who makes Cleveland the place it is. To the strangers who are kind in public, to the people that work in the city and for the city, to my neighbors for being so kind, to everyone in this sub who's ever given me pointers or advice. THANK YOU! You have no idea how much my life has been changed because of it.

Added some photos of our city because I love trying to capture the beauty I see here.

I love you Cleveland. Go Cavs.

Tried my best with the hair lol. Photo of Riyo is what I used as a reference.