As I write this, I'm on a flight back from New York. Let me tell you a little something about me and NYC. As a kid, it sent me into immediate panic. I hated the noise, the pace, the lack of nature, the yelling, the honking, the lack of space, the harshness. I hated brick.
It wasn't for me. So much so, that every year when we it hit on tour, I DREADED it.
And then three of my best friends from childhood moved there. And stayed there. And asked me to visit every year for the past TEN years until FINALLY, I agreed.
It's time.
It was my intention to first and foremost, visit my favorite people. It was my intention secondly, to get comfortable being uncomfortable and to reclaim some independence. So off I went. And uncomfortable I was. And joyful I was too.
Here's what I absolutely loved about New York...
1. Brooklyn.
Everyone told me I'd like it. I scoffed. Cultured, community-centric, full of character, a surprising amount of greenery and truly delicious food... I liked it. I can't believe it.
2. Cha Cha Matcha.
A matcha snob's dream. The strawberry matcha is *chef's kiss.*
3. Nourish Thai.
My friend brought me to a mind-blowingly delicious restaurant every single night and this is where she started us off. I don't have words, honestly. Just everything is 10x better than every Thai restaurant you've ever been to.
4. Random Name Game.
I don't know if I've ever written about this, but my sister and I invented this game that you can only play with people you've known for a longgg time. The longer, the better. In this game, you each think of a person from your past that you both know and share it out loud. The idea is to dig up the RANDOMEST person you can possibly think of. Examples of winners: the name of the owner of your small town local grocery store, the kid who never spoke in the back of your seventh grade math class, your estranged mutual friend's dad.
My three childhood friends and I played this over dinner my second night in town and knocked not one, but two glasses over laughing.
5. Comedy clubs.
More of this. More laughter.
6. Plane friends.
My flight was delayed 3 hours, then cancelled, then delayed 5 hours the next day leaving town. I'll save that series of absolutely unfortunate events for reel or something, but just know that the only thing that made it all bearable (and actually lovely) was the people. My seat mates were randomly the GOATS. We developed somewhat of a trauma bond through it all and honestly, I lost 24 hours of time, sanity and peace, but I think I gained lifelong friends. I'd do it again.
7. Letting myself be uncomfortable.
I'm not gonna lie, I'm not great at this. I avoid it like the plague. Even I barely noticed how low my tolerance for discomfort was because I've seen and done a lot. That provided me with the false notion that I'm chill (haha). So something I've been working on is both MAKING myself uncomfortable by trying new things (usually those things are by myself because this is where I personally need to stretch) and breathing through it. Discomfort is not a sign we are not supposed to be there (I used to think this), it's a sign we're meant to lean in and grow. Let it be. It's all a part of it.
