I’ve been in New York City for 9 months. Here’s a progress report.
When I first moved to New York City, I kept having what I referred to as “New York moments” It was the kind of thing that happened when I realized I was experiencing things that are so unique to this amazing city.
I remember waking up one morning when I had a friend in town. We stopped by the farmers market for breakfast, and wound up at an authentic Buddhist temple that had a Buddha statute out front that had survived the atomic blast. We befriended one of the older women who showed us ancient religious books and relics. Then we took the subway to a giant food festival in Brooklyn. All before noon.
That was a whole slew of New York moments.
Or the other day, I had the Today Show on and then walked past where they were filming minutes later on my commute to work. That was a New York moment.
I always thought it would be neat to live in New York City for a year – I wasn’t sure how much I’d like it or if at all, but it seemed like something that would a fun experience. I’ve been here 9 months and sometimes I still can’t believe how much I’ve embraced it…especially as someone who grew up playing in the corn fields of western Pennsylvania.
I recently moved apartments and one of our first nights in the new place, my four roommates and our friend had a movie night. Six of us crammed onto one sofa (even though there was additional seating available) and watched The Little Prince (highly recommend). It was beautiful.
When the movie ended and the debrief began, it hit me again. Only it wasn’t a New York moment this time. There was nothing unusual about a movie night with your friends. That wasn’t unique New York.
And that’s when it hit me part II.
It wasn’t a New York moment.
It was a Happiness moment.
It was a feeling of pure, euphoric joy unlike anything else.
I did it.
Flashback to January: I had no job, no friends, and no direction. I had my brother and his friends – and without them, I wouldn’t have survived. But outside of that, I felt like my entire world was nothing. I wasn’t in the best apartment situation and I hardly knew my way around the city.
In fact, I only knew the 1 Train. My mind was able to comprehend that there were other subway tracks out there, but my gut told me I had to take the 1. So no matter where I was going, for at least three weeks, I took the 1 train to get there. It didn’t matter that I lived next to the BC line. I took the 1 and then no matter where the destination was, I walked from the 1.
Nine months later, and now I take 3 separate trains to work and am there in a half hour because I’ve timed out the absolutely perfect time to leave my apartment and hit all my transfers perfectly so I won’t be waiting on the platform for too long.
It’s unbelievable to think of the incredible life changes that have come my way this past year. I subletted three apartments before signing a lease on my current home. I had 14 different roommates before I ended up with the four I live with now. I at one point was working 4-5 jobs each week in sometimes 12 hour shifts between multiple jobs. Now I work 8-4, Monday – Friday.
And so I sat on that couch after that first movie night and smiled. It wasn’t just New York. It was happiness. It was a job I love and a beautiful apartment and some of the best friends a girl in the city could ask for.
They say if you make it here you’ll make it anywhere…
Well… I finally feel like I made it. Because I’m truly happy. And that’s all I could really ask for.
Love always,
Liz
