New York City kicks my butt on the regular. However, I get up each day and try and try again. I don’t complain or whine. I just go to work. Some people love, hate or could care less for New York City. For me, its beauty, grunginess, its vitality and nonstop whirl keeps me inspired, pressing and moving forward. 

This city keeps me honest to myself. Keeps me constantly checking in with me to ensure that I’m on point. Because, if not, it’ll swallow me whole. One gulp. And it won’t be pretty. 

What’s my passion? My city will not only help me find it. It gives numerous opportunities to pursue it. And that’s what I LOVE. Many opportunities to go hard and then go HARDER. Plus, there’s inspiration everywhere. Opt for a walk in the park or a subway ride to midtown and you’ll find folks engrossed in a book or street hustlers busy entertaining trying to gain a dollar. It’s intoxicating, and for me, in a good way.

I didn’t plan to move here back in 2014, it just happened. At the time, I decided to go back to school and just so happened applied to two schools in my home state, along with several others across the country. And thankfully, when the acceptance letters came rolling in, I chose to attend the school housing one of the top programs in the country, Columbia University.

Elated and anxious, I made the transition with my youngest daughter and three years later with a brand new degree, we are still here reaching for more. Daily, I am still acclimating, navigating, trying to reinvent myself and place my own imprint on this “concrete jungle”. It’s been an interesting journey, for sure. Each day I get to wake in a city which I love and go after what drives me. It’s not always easy. Far from it, yet I press on, determined to make it and make a difference along the way. Add a little southern charm to the grunge. The most important thing is that I am happy here. Thriving, as I currently see it. And as long as that’s the case. You’ll find me in right here.

New York City is one of many sources of inspiration for me. Elevation through inspiration by any means necessary.

Please share any one thing that inspires you? Your city, your family? I’d love to hear about it and thanks for stopping by.

~ Grateful Badass

Grateful Living, Badass style!