Midtown, Moving, and Making Decisons

It’s Saturday. The sun is just barely peeking through the clouds, and creeping over the skyscrapers. So, it may not be the nicest of days outside today, but in comparison to New York’s winter this year, today is not half bad. 

More importantly, it is a 9 to 5-less day, which means I have a day all to myself to do up New York. 

So, in true local-wannabe fashion, I did what any former-journalism major transplant would do. I walked to the nearest coffee shop and started cosplaying Carrie Bradshaw, writing this diatribe that you are reading right now. 

And, to begin this diatribe, I have some big news to share with all of you! I am moving! Don’t worry – It’s only about 35 blocks and a few avenues away. I am staying in New York, for those of you who were wondering. 

My new apartment in the Upper West Side, with red exposed-brick walls, and five girls sharing two bathrooms, is going to characterize a new chapter in my life. 

Until now, I have been living in Midtown, and when I say Midtown, I mean literally Times Square. It has been hectic and electric all at the same time, an experience that I wouldn’t change for the world. 

However, I think Midtown has a strange power. At least in my life, Midtown began to personify itself. When you live in Midtown, you can begin to feel like you are actually stuck in the middle. Or, maybe it is just me being problematic and blaming where I live. 

While living in Midtown, I always felt in-between – in between jobs, in between relationships, in between seasons, and in between Dallas and San Diego (figuratively, of course). I always had one foot in and one foot out. I only let myself half-love this city. 

Thankfully, I have friends who notice when I do this. (Also, now, I have accepted that I am the problem, and that it is not Midtown’s fault. It is probably commitment issues). 

My friend told me something I really needed to hear a few weeks ago, and it is an important reminder for anyone in their twenties, just trying to figure out their next move.

My friend said, “I never ‘half-do’ anything. I make a decision, and I go with it. How can you enjoy anything if you aren’t committed to it?”

My friend could not have been more right. So, I took the advice. Only, at the time, I used that advice to justify a different decision, not where to live. 

I suddenly was far less concerned with where I would live, and focused on actually living! I had been so scared of making decisions, because I was constantly worried I would make the wrong one. Little did I know, that was the wrong decision.

So, with a bit of a screw-it attitude, my friend’s advice, and every rom-com scene playing in my head, I made a move – not to the Upper West Side. I made a move with the guy I had been too scared to tell how I felt. 

I felt invincible at that moment. Maybe it was because I had just lost in five rounds of pool, so I thought, “how could I embarrass myself more than that?” Or, maybe it was the rain misting in the dark, 1 AM night sky. Or, maybe it was the fact that my train was coming in six minutes, so if it went south, I could just jump right onto my south-bound train. 

Either way, in that subway station, I played my friend’s advice in my head, and finally stepped in with both feet. 

And, I plan to walk in New York with both feet from now on. So, from this moment on, I am committing, for however long I’m here. It doesn’t matter how long my time in New York is. I want to be all in, the whole time. 

So, see you later, Midtown! It looks like we are moving on up!