Joy

This evening, after a long day of class and a stop at my local hardware store, I laced up my Nike’s and headed to Central Park.

It has been roughly a month since I last ran. Between the move and school and walking all over this island, my exercise has gone on the back burner. But CP? Oh, can I call you CP? Is that cool? Okay. CP, promise to give me sights like tonight’s and I’ll come running to you every day.

The sun was just beginning to set as I made my way around the reservoir. The light reflected across the water and the buildings surrounding the park were all aglow. It was breathtaking.

When I finished the run, I couldn’t help but tear up. Not overwhelmingly so. Just enough to feel it in my eyes. And the tears, they weren’t 100% for the view, although if they were, I’d understand. It was overwhelming to feel the joy I felt in my heart. I know that sounds corny, but that’s where the joy us. Radiating in my chest.

Life here, particularly school and diving into a new social scene (oh my gosh, let’s talk about beginning the single life again…another time), life here can be challenging. My heart races when I get a new school assignment to go interview strangers about topic x and have a 500 word article in two hours later. Or going to a party where I know no one and trying to introduce myself only to feel completely invisible. Those things can be hard! Downright hard.

But you guys.

I feel so much joy. Joy I couldn’t have felt had I not gone through last year. Joy I couldn’t have felt if I didn’t, for a brief while, think New York was only intended to ever be a dream for me.  I’d live those painful moments all over again if I knew that it would lead me to this completely fulfilling, content, ambitious joy.

To anyone going through a challenge, it gets better. Seek spiritual guidance, try and make the best decisions you can, and move your way through it. I promise that those hard times will lead to something good that you’ll cherish even more as a result.

Macaron Cafe

I was reading Mara Kofoed's favorite Manhattan restaurants last week when she mentioned Macaron Cafe in Midtown, I thought to myself "Hold the phone, I go to school in Midtown".  A quick Google search later and it turns out I was a mere 2 minutes away from these beauties. With today being my FIRST DAY OF GRADUATE SCHOOL, I figure I deserved a little treat, no?

I originally purchased five macarons.

One block later, there were two left.

Not sure what exactly happened in those moments. It's a blur of coconut, Nutella, chocolate goodness.

Best After-School Snack Ever

Treated myself to a little Levain Bakery cookie Thursday after school.

And by little, I mean a fluffy, chocolatey, 1000 calorie handful of heaven.

Have yourselves a wonderful weekend! I'm spending it biking through Central Park, visiting the Chelsea Pier and watching Rocky II (Yes, you read that correctly).

And if I happen to find myself at 74th St and Amsterdam and happen to have an extra $4 and happen to stumble down the steps of Levain Bakery, then I'll just have to get another cookie....Right?

Central Park Magic

Leave apartment. Walk two blocks east. Admire brownstones while walking. Debate which one you'll buy when you sell the movie rights to your first book.

Then hit this:

Oh Central Park, you magical beast.

Hair, Meet Humidity

There's no fighting it.

Ramblings Of A Girl's Move To The Big Apple

Officially on my own in the Boston Back Bay station.

You guys! I did it! I'm here, typing to you from a library on the Upper West Side. This week has been such a blur of planes, trains, goodbyes, walking, shopping, walking, subways, walking and lots of exploring.

I wanted to write about the move itself before delving into other topics, so to those who are curious, here is how this 26-year-old Coloradan started completely over and moved to the Big Apple.

My mother and I spent the most perfect weekend in Boston only days ago. We attended a beautiful wedding, decorated a home from the Revolutionary War period for the reception, saw inspiring historical sights and ate lobster all the day long. On Monday, we tearfully hugged one another. Oh it makes my heart hurt just thinking about it. I have loved, LOVED this past year with my parents and sister back in Colorado. What a treat it’s been and I ache for them already. But it was time for me to be a grown-up again, so we said our goodbyes and I boarded a train (first-class, Momma E sent me off in style) to Penn Station.

That 4-hour train ride was a bundle of nerves and excitement. Folks, I knew NO ONE in this city. By saying I'm starting a new chapter, it's true. It's a completely new chapter. When the conductor announced that we were 45 minutes out of Penn Station, butterflies and nausea started setting in.

First glimpse of Manhattan from the train

I had read "Man's Search For Meaning" on the train at the encouragement of A Blog About Love's book club. In it, author Victor Frankel discussed the necessity of looking to the future, even if it was only looking to the day ahead and setting goals for achievement in that time period. So I set a goal for when I arrived at Penn Station:  Find my car ride home. That's all I had to do! I wasn't going to worry about anything else, only finding that car.

Once that was done, it was meeting my roommates. I thought about that goal as we drove around Columbus Circle, past Central Park nearing my new home. Roommates weren't home, so I set my next goal: Take the subway to Home Depot. In fact, this entire week has consisted of these goals and successes, from taking a shower to taking the Ikea Ferry. This approach has helped me to avoid the overwhelmingness that certainly would exist when moving to Manhattan.

Stepping outside each day, setting out to grab breakfast or dropping off my dry cleaning, I continually have a little flutter in my heart as I look around and realize that I, Amy, am living in New York City.

And guess what? I'm posting EVERY DAY this week. There's too much to share not to! So check back often.

Love, Amy M .