Bare with me. This is an abnormal and skewed idea. How could one possibly be in love with somewhere they've never been? Is this possible? Or a better yet, is this even normal?

Let me take you back to the earlier years of high school. Remember that boy in your art class? The one that was way older and you had never spoken to. You two only made eye contact because he caught you staring at him or spoke because you said "God bless you" after he sneezed that one time? Yeah, that guy you were in love with, but didn't know? You believed he was the best looking guy at your high school, and would do anything to grab his attention. Loving a city you've never been to is just like that. This consuming urge to know all aspects of the person or place. A feeling that keeps your stomach constantly full of butterfly and your mind full of hope.

I am in love with too many places I've never been and too many people I've never met. Part of it is the curiosity that is constantly striking my brain. The other part of it is the urge to experience and live a life full of adventure. Everyday, I am consumed by the idea of visiting or moving to all these extraordinary places. But how do I know they're extraordinary? I don't. And that's what makes it all so exciting and embarrassing at the same time.

I'm sure I'm not the only one in love with the idea of other cities. In fact, I know I'm not. If all of us continued our boring lives in the same boring places, we'd never travel. We'd never make a life or a name for ourselves. We'd never know what the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower was like or how stunning the twin towers memorial is. We'd drive down the same street and encounter the same people day in and day out. How could we be in love with normalcy?

I am in love with Boulder, Colorado. I have never been, nor do I know anyone who currently resides there. I am in love with the atmosphere I've never experienced. I am in love with the coffee shops I've never seen and better, I am in love with the mountains that I've never hiked. My heart skips a beat every time I think of the idea of possibly being there one day. On multiple occasions, I have borderline booked a flight, by myself, with no plan. Just to experience the high altitude and the smell. The chill in the air and the crisp morning dew, that I don't know even exists, is something I itch for every day.

I can't get this idea out of my head: one day I want to be sitting in a coffee shop, wearing my adorable L.L. Bean boots (that I don't even own) with a perfect view of Flagstaff Mountain. I don't know if this view exists. But for my sanity, I hope it does.

The sad reality: just like the boy from art class, not everything and everyone is as it seems. Although we may imagine all scenarios as perfect, they aren't always. One day we'll visit the places we never thought we would. The bad will come with the good and the reality will set. The stomach-flipping feeling will be worse than ever when I first step foot in Boulder. But so will my ability to breathe. Being 5,000 feet above sea level may shock my body. And then my stomach will drop when I pass my first Walmart and then the first fast food joint. How could Boulder have any of these forbidden chains? Being in love often blocks those little (huge) details.

Being in love with a city you've never been is the biggest teaser. The reality is, anywhere new is going to be amazing. Whether the experience is like no other, the people are extraordinary or they just have really good food. I love being in love with somewhere I've never been. It gives me hope that places are more exciting and beautiful than the loud, population consumed city I currently live. It gives me hope that just maybe there are people in the world that do actually know how to drive and love hiking as much as I do.

If I leave you with anything, I hope it's this: Just because the boy in art class wasn't the guy you thought he'd be, doesn't mean his friend isn't everything you were looking for. Fall in love with anywhere and everywhere you've never been. Travel, experience and find a reason to stay in love with all these places.

Boulder, Colorado, I'm coming for you.