The Parking Lot as a Metaphor
The parking lot symbolizes those times in life when a person loses their sense of direction. Many people experience moments where they feel stuck, as if stalled in a mental concrete jungle. For me, this sense of stagnation has always been intertwined with my perception of Nevada.
Growing Up in Nevada
As a teenager living in a small Nevada town, I felt uncertain about what my future should look like, but I was sure it did not resemble my current surroundings. Even then, I realized I was not suited to small-town life and always aspired to be somewhere better than Nevada. I always knew I was better than what Nevada could ever offer. Sometimes, you should believe in yourself and your inner thoughts.
I have always considered the State of Nevada to be lacking in competence and education. My suspicions were recently confirmed by a study that validated my hypothesis. The state struggles to generate adequate revenue to support its services because residents refuse to pay state income tax, choosing instead to overspend on everything else while believing they are somehow outsmarting the system.
Leaving Nevada: Searching for Fulfillment
Initially, I believed that leaving the indignity of a small town would resolve my feelings of stagnation. However, I discovered that the larger the city in Nevada, the more unhappy its residents seemed to be. The state’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism and manual labor, with hospitality jobs dominating the workforce. As these jobs become more concentrated, relationships with neighbors and friends often feel superficial and fictitious.
Experiences in Utah and Colorado
After escaping Nevada, I moved to Utah. If there is one place on the west coast potentially worse than Nevada, it would be Utah. Like Nevada, Utah is filled with insincere people, but for different reasons: instead of being fake for tips, they are fake for religious reasons. They hold the Bible in one hand and pain pills in the other.
Later, I relocated to Colorado. Through this move, I felt I had finally left the parking lot behind. Although my life was not always as fulfilling as I hoped, I sensed progress and the ability to create change. I could switch jobs, make friends, and find people with similar interests. I felt like my life had finally started. I never wanted to put my life in reverse again, I had a life and a good one.
In Colorado, I was fortunate to meet people who were liberal-minded, not just voting along party lines as in Nevada. They could articulate their reasoning for their political choices, and I gained valuable insights into politics during my stay.I learned to be not only liberal, but also a moderate at the same time. It was okay to have varying opinions depending on the topics, not one size fits all.
In comparison to both Nevada and Utah, Coloradans had a community concern. I learned for the first time that it was possible for some to worry about others, not just themselves. People would regularly bond together for causes such as wildfires to an extent that was unimaginable elsewhere. The sense of community also seemed to bring a culture of equity rather than everyone stomping on each other simply to get ahead. Nevada certainly has a proud tradition of doing anything necessary to get ahead.
My Husband’s Stagnation and Returning to Nevada
While I found fulfillment in Colorado, my husband did not. Although I managed to escape my parking lot, he found himself in one. He struggled with change and preferred to remain stagnant rather than move forward. Ultimately, I returned to a state of stagnation for his sake, so he could move forward.
When my husband received a job offer in Nevada, I reluctantly agreed to move back, despite my better judgment. This time, we settled in a small community, and I naively believed Nevada might have changed during my decade-long absence. Sadly, I was mistaken.
Feeling Stuck Again
Once again, I found myself stuck, but this time it felt like my wheels were trapped in sand. Every attempt to move forward led nowhere, and whenever I gained traction, it inevitably brought me into contact with unethical and wicked individuals. There seemed to be no other path available.
At one point, I thought I had found hope through someone new to town. Unfortunately, they were drawn to Hawthorne for its pervasive evil. They had fabricated a story about helping traumatized children, but their real intent was to profit by warehousing them. When the state finally acknowledged the abuse, half the community continued to advocate for child abuse simply to create jobs.
Taking Control and Finding a Way Forward
This time, I’ve realized that I am in control of both the vehicle and the destination. I no longer need to depend on friends, networks, or even personal qualities like kindness or intelligence. The key is to create a map for where I want to go. With determination, I can transform any parking lot into a field of dreams.
Conserving Energy and Strategic Planning
One approach is to carefully conserve energy. When feeling stranded, the instinct is often to struggle or escape from the community’s terrors. This is part of their trap, designed to wear people down and destroy hope. Rural America is like the quicksand we learned about in school: the more we struggle, the faster we sink.
The way out is through strategic maneuvers and thoughtful planning. While ignorance may win temporarily, knowledge ultimately prevails. I can choose to change and thrive, even if others resist. There is no obligation to bring them along; in fact, leaving their baggage behind makes me lighter and more agile.