We Can't Plan Everything

Exactly five months ago, I was walking down 63rd Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, grabbing a quick breakfast to-go and my morning coffee before saying my final "see you later" to the Big Apple. As I was taking my morning stroll, that feeling of "this is home" finally hit me. After many years being on the East Coast, visiting the city during every college break, and even having many NYC photos plastered around my childhood bedroom, that "it" feeling finally came to me.I decided I would move to New York City by the end of June 2020, just in time as my current lease was ending and the Fiscal was ending at my corporate job. I was so excited for this new chapter and opportunity. I was already looking at apartments by February; setting my eyes on the West Village or Chelsea neighborhoods.And then...COVID-19 happened. As I am writing this post, on June 20th, I am uncertain about the future of New York. I am uncertain of when I will be able to actually move to the city and enjoy everything the city has to offer--the busy hustle, loud streets, tasty food and drinks, skyline views, incredible nightlife, and more. Despite already having most of that ready to go and planned...even with what I was going to do with my car!But what I can say with certainty--New York City has been the kind of city that has experienced the worst of worst and the best of best. From 9/11 to COVID, this city has been through it all and more importantly, has developed the grit and thick skin it needs to get through this again.I may be uncertain of when exactly I'll be calling this city home, but I do know that I will be one day soon. Whether that's in a few months or perhaps in a year.Sometimes life doesn't go as planned...as we all know. But one thing I've learned from that in my past is that often times, the way it turns out is actually a lot better than we would've ever expected.xx