The Best Advice I Can Give a Harrisburg Resident

It likely comes as no surprise when I say it’s in our human nature to chase the next best thing. Fashion trends? I’m guilty. Technology trends? I’m still saving, but nonetheless guilty. Location trends? It’s hard not to dream about moving somewhere tropical, somewhere adventurous, somewhere fresh and exciting – for lack of better terms.

Maybe you thought about leaving Harrisburg and not looking back.

But the best advice I can give a Harrisburg resident? Put your tourist habits aside and replace them with pilgrim practices. 

What Is Harrisburg to You?

Have you ever heard Harrisburg described as the “armpit of PA?” Because I have, and that description truly s t i n k s! So often in our running we forget to stop and breathe in the joys of what we’re surrounded with – but when we do remember, it doesn’t smell so bad. 

I am one hundred and ten percent guilty of once thinking Harrisburg wasn’t a “cool” city, a destination city, or a place worth settling for too long post graduation. Heck, I thought that about all of central PA! Mindset plays a key part in the way we view our current situations though, and I’m glad mine has stretched enough to see Harrisburg as more than a place to pass through. 

In the past year, Harrisburg has experienced growth that will continue into and throughout this year. Why? Because people decided they were ready to stop being tourists in our city and instead plant roots for the long term.

The Tourist vs. Pilgrim Mindset

I want you to genuinely ask yourself the following question. While living in Harrisburg do you seek out an experience or a destination? Meaning, at the end of the day does the destination matter to you, or just the feeling the experience left you with? All too often, we get wrapped up in the experience of our travels, evaluating the authenticity of our trip, what we got out of it, and if we found ourselves in the journey.  

This is the tourist mindset. One where we become so wrapped up in our own experience we forget the experience only exists in the first place because of the destination. The most real example of this for me is when I wait to take the perfect-to-me shot for Instagram after the crowds have gone – because having tourists in the background of a picture isn’t “authentic enough.” Relatable, right?

The pilgrim mindset, on the other hand, means finding joy in the journey. It means looking at cultural landmarks as more than a sight to see or a picture-worthy backdrop. The Harrisburg capitol building is a beautiful landmark garnering tons of tourist traffic every year, but to a pilgrim its history and the daily battles fought within it are what provides its significance.

Every day we are given the chance to witness or relate – we can either pass by the woman working at Little Amps while mothering two children, or we can love her as a member of our community and acknowledge her role in raising our next generation. By choosing to love we are contributing something greater to ourselves and our city.

Learning to Be a Pilgrim in Our Harrisburg Community

Having a tourist mindset isn’t centrally connected to travel-related pursuits. You can live a tourist life – day to day – right in the heart of Harrisburg, without even realizing it. So how then do you adopt and live with a pilgrim mindset?

Going back to what I said earlier, put your tourist habits aside. Stop looking at what you can get from the city, and start thinking about what you can give. When you start looking at Harrisburg as more than a backdrop and begin investing in its offerings, that’s when you start planting roots. 

You can easily identify yourself as a tourist if picking up and moving out of Harrisburg is as easy as it sounds. Like uprooting a plant, moving should mean a definitive separation of life and land.

Envision the hard goodbyes with new friends & neighbors or final stops at frequented coffee shops for that last sip.

Here are four ways you can demonstrate pilgrim practices in Harrisburg.

1. Research. Get to know your city like that person you just stalked on Instagram for the past 15 minutes. Personally, I love to research Harrisburg’s current and past history. Start learning about what paved the way before us and what plans there are for the city’s future. 
2. Know Your Neighbors. My neighbors are strangers no more. I love finding ways to connect with my neighbors, whether it’s inviting someone in for dinner, hosting a game night, or chatting during elevator rides. This will look different for everyone.
3. Shop Local. Choosing to buy groceries, everyday goods, or unique trinkets from local vendors helps our city move forward. I love knowing my purchases – even if it’s a dinner at a local spot instead of a chain restaurant – will help contribute to growth here.
4. Get Involved. Find ways to volunteer or become more involved in our community. This could mean serving in Bethesda Mission’s soup kitchen or sitting on the Friends of Midtown board. It’s important to have a pulse on decisions our city makes or giving back when you can.

A Changed Perception

I often say Harrisburg holds more than meets the eye. But you won’t truly know what that means until you walk side streets, grab coffee with a new friend, and experience the small intricacies accumulating the journey. Allow Harrisburg’s people, places, and day to day interactions leave you different than when you came.