End of a Great Chapter

I've been so so so busy ever since I came back from India that I haven't had a chance to collect my thoughts, write and reflect as the NY chapter of my life inevitably came to a close. Considering the purpose of this blog was to document the latter, I felt it pretty obligatory to write SOMETHING about it. Even though I've sifted through all the "oh's" and "ah's" over having realized the many ways I've grown through the past year. (Thank you to traveling solo.)
I know my future nerdy self will LOVE re-reading this.

To be honest, it was short and sweet. I stayed a year & 3 months and comparatively, that is pretty short. Also made evident by the fact that, physically, it feels like I never left.
Ryan Seacrest is still hosting KIIS FM morning show and I still hear the same Tupac/Biggie songs on the radio.
And yes, I still forget to check my gas. Just yesterday...well, let's not go there.

I look back at the past 15 months and think NY was great mainly due to the fact that it was not real.
I'm not trying to be philosophical or deep. (Come on, it's ME.)
NY was not real because it is a bubble that most people live in. These 'most people' are the young people. The ones to whom NY is a transitional phase. Everything is intensified in this bubble; which is amazing when you're 24 and you have the job you've always wanted, friends you love and money (or lack of adult responsibilities tying up this money) to do whatever the hell you want. Case in point. Me.

Personally relevant to me, it wasn't real because....well, same as the above. (same same but different D)
I played and worked knowing it would come to an end. And trust, with that attitude, things go down so much more differently.

As enjoyable as all the "partying" was, I will still look back at NY and remember so much more than that. (shockingly enough, no qualms about not drinking 3x a week or being hungover 40% of my waking hours any more)
I guess I feel...proud of myself. Or my decision.
I left a job that I loved. Seriously. A dream job I felt so fortunate to have. (at the time)
Not only that but NY holds a bit more significance given my first try at it was a semi traumatic turning point in my life.
Plus I have a really tightly knit, loving community of friends and family in LA. I really wonder where I got the courage to leave that but I guess that's what being young is about- being bold because we haven't failed enough to let fear make our decisions. yet....

On top of that, as much as I say NY was a bubble, it helped me see outside my own bubble. (In the guy department too but I'll keep SOME stuff private. ha!) Definitely the year of dating for me.

I met so many interesting and inspiring people. It really gave me a renewed sense of motivation about how to live my own life. Part of that is just getting older and being more knowledgeable about my surroundings, but only in NYC does it all come crashing together with such impact.

I'm rambling and I'm sure I've written the more personal stuff in my India journal (yes, I'm THAT girl) so I guess I'll leave with some of the things I'll miss:

• Running on the westside highway. my FAVORITE! 
• outdoor eating
• taxis
• Sunday brunches
• SUNDAYS
• Random walks around the city
• St Marks
• Strand 
• So much culture in a 5 mi radius, unbelievable
• Crazy people on the subway...enough said.
• MY FRIENDS!!!! Thank you for making my NY experience!
• And separately, the best roomie ever. Seriously. Makes me rethink what "being considerate" means. I think I learned a thing or two about being a better roomie, to my future husband even. 

Thank you NY! Now I appreciate LA more too!