#NewMonthNewMe

Last week was my 2 month mark being in the city. January was a whirlwind of "firsts" (first Saturday wandering the city, first time trying the new coffee shop by my apartment, first time trekking through the snow to work, etc), the whole month just flew by. February is when reality started to hit. I'll spare you the details but let's just say it was a rough month for me. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was being homesick, maybe it was hearing from an ex. Whatever it was, February was the worst. 

So I've adopted a mantra for March. New Month, New Me. 

My plan:

- Joining the yoga studio next to my apartment

- Meeting new people (harder than it sounds for an introvert like me)

- Eating out less (Seamless is sooo easy)

- Changing my attitude towards my new job

- Coloring my hair (haven't done anything to my hair since I was like 15!)

I'm excited to see where I am a month from now. It can only go up from here!

#newmonthnewme

My 5 Year Plan

I had a pretty big reality check the other day. I was talking to a guy who was leaving New York to go back to florida. He had come to the city without any real plan, outside of trying to make it in standup comedy, and had only been able to land a job as a waiter. He was defeated and tired of being constantly broke, so he was packing his bags and heading back south.

I was shocked. How could someone move to a city like this (or move anywhere!) without a plan?  I said to him "Wow, we're pretty different. I have always had a 5 year plan, without it I would have so much anxiety."

His response - "Did your plan include you moving to New York?"

I immediately felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. Such a simple, straightforward question but for me it carried so much weight. 

I sheepishly looked at the floor and shrugged "I guess not... Actually no, no it didn't."

For the past week that question has been in the back of my mind. Making me question of all the planning and goal setting and future-oriented decision making is even worth it if it can all change  in an instant like it did with me.

I do still think it's important (to me at least) to have a 5 (or 1, 2, 10, etc) year plan. But it's just as important to let that plan change. BE FLEXIBLE! There are so many things in life, good and bad, that we can't plan for. Career change, moving locations, getting sick, changing industries, getting laid off, starting a family, etc. These chanes are scary and a lot of times they force us to completely change our 5 year plan. But I'm learning that's not such a bad thing. 

War Eagle & Windchill

There are 2 things this former Auburn/southern girl is not a fan of - last nights game & this frigid cold.

In true Auburn fashion, the game was exciting all the way up to the last few seconds. I watched the game at the NYC Auburn bar Tavern on third (@ 27th & 3rd) and the atmosphere was incredible. It makes me feel so unbelievably lucky to have gone to a school with so much passion for not just sports but the university and the "family" of fans across the country. No matter where I am in the country (Boston, DC, NYC), the Auburn Alumni club always makes me feel at home in my new city.

Unfortunately, FSU won out in the last seconds and everyone was devastated. I may have teared up a bit. In the end, it is, and will always be, great to be an Auburn tiger. What an incredible season! 

This cold has GOT TO GO! I love winter (falling snow, Christmas, curling up by the fire) but -15* windchill walking around the city? No thanks. So ready to curl up in bed and do some much needed online shopping tonight ;) 

One Down

I did it! I survived my first week in NYC. I also survived the first week of work at my new job! Granted it was a short one but I'll take the small victory.

Outside of work, my week has consisted of apartment hunting, apartment hunting, and more apartment hunting.  Running around the city looking at places kicked my butt. I have never been so tired or sore (moment of silence for my feet) in my life. A few nice places, one really sketchy situation in the West Village, and a lot of Criagslist-ing/google-maping, I finally found a place! ... for one month. My plan is to use the month to find the perfect long-term rental (or stay there if the 4th floor walk-up doesn't kill me by February).

Snapshots of My Week (via my iPhone)

First night in the city :: 

My morning walk to the subway (after the snow storm) ::

I'm officially a NYC/Upper East Side resident ::