Dear Diary (Episode 1)

Dear Diary,

It’ been one week since we returned from our trip to New York City. I am as shocked as you are that the urge to return is strong. There are no words to accurately and adequately describe the skyline, the people, the buildings, and the energy.

Oh that electric energy! The pulse of the city vibrates, at all hours of the day. She never sleeps. And she never lets you down.

You can eat whatever you want to eat in the city - the options are covered. And covered well.

You can wear whatever you want to wear and no one will give you a sideways glance.

You can be whatever it is you want to be and no one (and I do mean no one) will talk you out of it. In fact, they will support you with expectation. Expectation to follow up and follow through. Please.

You can be afraid and still move.

That, dear diary, was my favorite part. It was my favorite life lesson. One I hope never to forget.

You can be afraid and still move.

In fact, you SHOULD keep moving because it is the only way out of the fear. Allow me to explain, it is 10pm and you are walking along East River, directly under the FDR Highway. The lights of Brooklyn twinkle and sparkle, but the nightly mist reminds that you danger could lurk anywhere. Around that corner. Under that tree. Bundled up in that coat.

So you keep walking. Perhaps a little faster. You move. Swiftly.

And you mind your own business. Staying aware and being nosey as to what you heard, those are two very different things. So you keep moving.

The pulse of the city is movement. She promises you opportunity, she embraces your uniqueness, but she will run you over should you not move.

She does not have room for stillness. If that is you darling, then please leave using the nearest exit and return should you be ready to do something with yourself. Your life.

Motion is her way of life. She recites poetry of the modern world.

New York will never reach her destination, she will never arrive. Because, dear diary, she is always changing. Static isn’t her game, but change is, and she whispers in your ear when you rise and at night when you tell her goodnight, “sweet one, it is your game too.”.

She demonstrates day in and day out that change is a beautiful thing. It is not scary, it is not sad, it is not overwhelming. Buildings come down, and buildings go up. People wash in and people wash out. All the same deep inside, are these people. Striving for the same things: community, connectedness, love, and purpose.

Find yourself amongst the people, they will tell you.

We are all the same.

Find them hiding throughout the corners of the earth, they will tell you. We are all the same. We all want to be loved. We all want to be included. And we all want to do something with our life. We want to matter, we want to help.

Dear Diary, that was my second favorite life lesson that she taught me.

Since the Dutch birthed her some 4+ centuries ago, she has always been on her way. Becoming the great city with lights that will inspire you.

You can never fully describe her, and that I believe is her secret quality. The city where dreams are made of, there’s nothing you can’t do. If you can make it there, then you can make it anywhere.

New York, thank you for your energy, for your inspiration.

I feel brand new.

I look forward to our next encounter.

Warmly,

Jennifer from Sleepy North Carolina