Living In Your Letters

Dear New York,

While you are not the most dysfunctional relationship I've ever had, you certainly are my longest. Formally introduced back in December 2005, we rang in the New Year together, and from that moment, I knew we had something special. Our paths wouldn't cross again until years later. I'd become a different person by then; molded by the experiences college had afforded me. We re-connected that rainy summer of 2009, and I'd found my new future.

You showed me my dreams and how to get there, though, it hasn't always been Spring time cherry blossoms and colorful Autumn leaves. The ups, the downs, the back and forth, the love-hate relationship; it's tiresome and draining. But in the just the way we can feel it in the air when it shifts from Winter to Spring and Summer to Fall, you revive me, waking me up from hibernation and letting me cool off with a crisp breeze. You are an addiction, following every lull with a high, leaving me craving for that next revival.

We are that couple that breaks up and gets back together again, but when people ask how long it's been we never count the time in between. Happy almost 4 years, New York!

All my love xo JT

Don't Have to Change

I'm starting to make plans for the rest of the year, and when I think about Thanksgiving, I can't help but be a little sad at how different home will be.

Ever so slowly, the cousins have started to go our separate ways and all of a sudden, family time isn't a given anymore. Every Sunday used to be guaranteed family time, and I don't think we took this time for granted; we just never thought about it ever ending.

Then we went to different schools, got married, and generally have more grown up obligations, but here's to hoping that one day we'll have the means to have just really super awesome family trips in the future.

The Starting Line

You can start over whenever you choose :)

http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/18/30-things-to-start-doing-for-yourself/

Compass

I've let June pass by without a peep, and now July has nearly come and gone and I've at last decided to give this thing a whirl and see what thoughts spew out of my brain.

I had dinner with a fellow Florida transplant and it is really incredible how much can change in a year. We each had specific life plans (by that I mean we had a rough idea/timeline), but fast forward to a year later, and we are far and away from those plans. Well, maybe not far, but we took a bit of a detour rather than following the map.

And I am happy.

I am happy all of those not planned things happened. I'm glad a took a different route. I'm glad I got a little lost. And I hope I continue to be proof that you always find your way back.

Plate Spinning and Other Circus Tricks

If you don't like where you are, you have to think about what you can do differently, and then actually, you know, do it.

I need to work on generally being more productive. Work more, sleep less. Jay-z didn't become Jay-z because he liked sleep (or P. Diddy, or Timbaland. I don't know why rappers come to mind first but it is what it is.)

Trying to get off of your parents' tab so you no longer have to convince yourself that you're an investment--  Juggling real life responsibilities and dream chasing seems to slow down the progress of the latter.  You begin to wonder if you'll ever, ever get there.

We are a generation of instant gratification. We're impulsive. We want everything how we want it and when we want it, which is our way and NOW. We are impatient. I am impatient.

You may be far and away from where you want to be, but every little step is at least a step forward. Before you know it, you'll be miles away form where you started.

hashtag: gypsyproblems

I constantly feel pulled by three different places and I don’t think it will ever go away.  I’m a city girl, a Southern girl, and an island girl all rolled into one, and when I’m in one place I miss the other two and CAN’T WAIT to get back.

I’m not sure how this will be resolved, but I’m working on a building a lifestyle that appeases by soul, my heart and spirit.

Oh, the woes of a gypsy.

Spring In Your Step

It has been nearly six months since I was home last. I know for most people, that is not a very significant amount of time, but MAN, have I been homesick.

The last time I was home, I spent most of my time praying about what I should do next. New York? Not New York? Going to the chapel, having lunch with friends, making lists on lists on lists trying to figure it all out.

Well, I still don’t have it figured all out, and I probably never will. But I know it was the right decision because it was the decision I made. At a certain point, you have to stop asking for opinions, stop making lists and make a freakin’ decision and trust that it was the best one.

So far, I can’t complain. I have my apartment (in Jersey?!), a job in the city, good people around me, and an un-ending support system that will cheer me on when I need a Gatorade break.

2013, you are flyin’. But you are lookin’ pretty good.