Why #ThankYouMiami?

I have been publicly thanking Miami for almost two years. I have been thanking Miami for the good, the bad, and the ugly. Sometimes my "thank you"s seem more like rants, but in the end I'm always thankful. But why #ThankYouMiami?

The idea for Thank You, Miami was born from my growing frustration with Miami's blatant disregard for common courtesy. One day, I decided I had had enough when one too many people didn't hold the elevator for me or didn't say "Good morning!" back. And I decided to do something to fix it. So I called upon the basic manners I was taught as a kid (the pleases and thank yous) and began to remind Miami, through example, how to be polite.

Part of leading by example meant engaging with Miami through social media. And, my work on Twitter opened my eyes to a lot more of Miami than I knew existed. After a few months, I realized many things about Miami, including a baffling realization - us locals often take it for granted.

It's easy to do. I mean, we are blessed by a beautiful setting, surrounded by gorgeous and talented people, and exposed to unique opportunities. But, after living here for some time, we get accustomed to these perks and they start to seem less special. Not to mention, they are often overshadowed by the trade-offs that come with living in such a popular destination.

Due to that realization, Thank You, Miami has since evolved into something more for me. It has become a way for Miamians to rediscover Miami, the city we love but also hate. A way to thank it for the joy it brings us. But also, an outlet for laughing and commiserating about those things that drive us mad. Because if you don't laugh, you'll cry.

In honor of Thank You, Miami's upcoming two year anniversary (August 8), let's look back at our favorite and least favorite aspects of Miami through my favorite 10 tweets from this past year:

I really enjoy swapping stories with others about how awesome, but often frustrating it is to live in Miami. Do you have a reason to thank Miami or a story to share? Leave a comment below or sending me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!