New York City, here I am! I’m so thrilled to be sharing with you my next chapter in life: living in the Big Apple! If you haven’t read my previous life update, I encourage you to read first about how I secretly graduated from grad school in order to provide more context to this blog post. While I have already shared the news on my Instagram a few months ago, I’m ready to give you the real scoop on everything you need to know about the spontaneous decision I made when moving to NYC.
My History with New York City
Prior to my move, I have traveled to New York each year for my blog. I experienced New York City while attending NYFW, visiting friends, and working with brands. I remembered looking forward to those trips, feeling like it was a big deal back then, to experience a city like NYC because it was nothing like Houston. So while my move was a “spontaneous” decision, it definitely wasn’t something I would consider being “blindly impulsive.”
Why I Needed Change in My Life
Last April, I was finishing up graduate courses all while applying for new jobs in my degree. There was a growing part of me that wanted to start a new chapter – and while I loved the comfort of being with family in Houston, I just knew that my next journey would make me move outside of my home city. During 2020, I felt really stressed with the lifestyle I had – I had to cancel all my travel plans, was staying with my parents, and I dealt with the horrendous Houston traffic daily with unconventional work hours. Ultimately, I felt like there was nothing that excited or fulfilled me. Staying in Houston for the majority of the year, it made me reconsider what I could do for my life rather than what I am able to do with the circumstances I’m having. The quote, “When everything is uncertain, everything that is important becomes clear” comes to mind as I type this. Turning 28 and getting closer to my 30’s, I knew I had to make a huge change in my life. This meant that living in Houston was not sustainable with what I wanted to ultimately accomplish for my personal growth, career, and business.
The Process
So, I hustled like crazy (sometimes even applying for 10 job applications a day) in hopes of getting one email follow-up. I was applying for every job in the US I was eligible for (I know…I was desperate). This process took months – which sometimes left me feeling hopeless because I wouldn’t get interview offers for weeks at times. But eventually, I did get booked with interviews and even multiple job offers. However, it led me to trust my worth and learn how to say no. I was either getting lowballed on money (which is sadly typical as a female) or I felt like I was settling on an offer that was “safe,” which felt like a disservice to everything I was working for in the past 2 years of attending grad school. The process lead me to find a company based in NYC that was willing to let me start working with them as early as 4 weeks. Meanwhile, I had an offer in Chicago that also was interested in letting me start working with them in the Fall. I was so confused with what I wanted to do that I had to take a trip to both cities to ultimately make a decision.
Why New York?
When I traveled to NYC, I stayed in Queens and really got to experience what my life “could be like” if I ended up living there. I literally cried my eyes out the first day I had lunch by myself in the city. That moment felt really real for me, because I had suppressed the idea of ever actually “making it” in my career in a city like NYC. I remembered feeling really excited, nervous, and a little bit fearful about taking on the NYC offer when I returned back to Houston. That healthy dose of fear was actually what made me realize that this opportunity was “the one.”
My Advice
So, I hope this blog post can help someone out there struggling to figure out what their “next step” in life is. My advice? Just go for it- because moving to NYC has been the best decision I’ve made in my 20’s. I know that sharing my story might turn people off since, statistically, so many people are moving out of New York City because of the pandemic, rent pricing, horrible winters, etc. But, let me be clear with you my dear readers: I…do…not….care what those people think of me. The timing may not make sense, but it was the right time for me because I’m choosing to fully trust in my life journey every step of the way. Plus, I’ve been loving the fact that I’m getting a different kind of experience as a local in New York. So here are 10 things I look forward to while spending my first year in NYC:
- I can leisurely read a book or use my phone while commuting.
- I can actually experience all four seasons.
- I can enjoy a fresh homemade slice of pizza anywhere (buh-bye Pizza Hut).
- I’m walking distance to so many places – groceries, hospitals, shops, restaurants, etc.
- I can actually do photoshoots in public without strangers thinking I’m weird.
- I can have a place of my own (again).
- I don’t have to try to be taken seriously for my career and business.
- I can explore new spots in NYC that aren’t touristy.
- I can catch up with old friends.
- I can share this new chapter with you.
Hope you enjoyed this personal blog post today! Let me know your thoughts about NYC in the comments below – I’ll be responding to them! Also, you can always keep up with me and my travel content by following me on my social media as well:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reesarei
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reesarei/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/reesarei/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReiReesa
Until next time!
