Saying Good-bye to my sister before moving to NYC. She surprised me in Atlanta to take me to the airport.
There are many things in life that I would go back and live again. I would love to revisit parts of my childhood, my high school tennis days, the day I joined my sorority in college, my sweet moments with friends, and so on. One thing I know I would not want to go back and re-live is..... MY FIRST YEAR IN NEW YORK. Okay so I have made it one year!!! That's right one year ago today I was boarding a plane with 2 bags and moving my life to NYC. It is hard for me to believe that I did it. I had a dream of living in the city, I prayed that I would live in the city by the time I was 27, and when I was 26 God opened the door for me to make the move! I love that I live here. I love my life, BUT it has been one challenging year. I look on my year and cannot believe some of the amazing experience that I have had. I love that I have had many of those "once in a lifetime" experiences in my first year here. I love that I have learned so much. I feel like I have become my own person here and changed and grown in so many ways. But all that being said, when I look back on this first year I also am so glad I made it through and I'm still alive! My life completely changed when I stepped on that airplane July 1, 2008. Today I was standing on the subway platform waiting for the B train to take me to work when I lady came up to me and asked me a question about directions. I helped her figure out what train would be best for her to take and afterwards just thought about how far I have come. I remember moving here and thinking how in the world do you learn the subway system here? It's funny that a year later that not only do I know the subway system well, but I really know my way around NYC and do not think anything about getting around the biggest city in America. That is just one of the small ways that my life has changed.
On a bigger note my relationship with God has grown and deepened. Leaving all your comforts behind and moving to this place will definitely teach you about dependency on the Lord. I have had so many moments where I have sat in my room in this city and just thought, "God I am so thankful you are here with me and leading me on this journey. I don't know what I would do without you!" It has been a year of MANY transitions.... new friendships, new home, new jobs, new church, new surrounding, new culture, new everything. God has taught me a lot this year about looking to Him as my source of hope when everything else in my life feels new and rocky. He has met me each day and poured out his love in my life like crazy. There continues to be big changes in my life, but God continues to be faithful. I love that He has written my story and ordained all my days and that He will not take me through one where He has not gone before me. I look forward to what next year in New York City has for me. I am thankful that life is not so "new" anymore and that this huge city is feeling more and more like home!
I guess I am officially a New Yorker now! (Well....I will always be a southerner!)
Some of my sweet friends and I hanging out by the Hudson river in the city
P..S. I am celebrating tonight by going to Shakespeare in the Park. Anne Hathaway is srarring in the performance of Twelfth Night along with some other celebs. It is supposed to be incredible. They do the performance in a outdoor theatre in Central Park! Can't wait
P.P.S Florida was great...pictures to come soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment