I'll let my pictures tell the story of what I've done in NYC since I last blogged in January. If you want more details on them, just let me know. Moving on ...
I have now been in New York City for a little over six months. The routines of taking trains and buses and rerouting on a regular basis and lots of meetings and long hours at work have become "normal" now to me. It's honestly had me feeling weird when things weren't full of conflict and coldness. I mean, I just know that I've finally reached the up swing on the U-curve we all go through when we transition into new experiences in life. Even still, I didn't expect it to hit me only six months in; I didn't know when it would hit me though or even truly expect it to happen. It's funny how months and months went by of me knowingly becoming a new, New Yorker Amanda only to feel strange in the end. Soon to cap it all off as a gift to myself, my NY state drivers license will arrive in the mail!
Realizing that I had been here six months after my vacation to the South recently began making my head spin with reflective thoughts about my time here and what normal life is to me now. Honestly, I know that I am blessed to live here. I am blessed financially to live on no more than half of what I made in the South each month yet live comfortably in one of the world's most expensive cities. I have been given so many new friends that are being knit deeply into my life more and more. Some will remain life-long friends though I'll likely live thousands of miles away. I see the artist and teacher and compassionate person thrive here as I live out so many of my dreams and get to literally help the world and my neighbors here on a daily basis. It is wonderful!
The biggest self-realization to hit me as of late was how much of a lover I have grown into. I know that I used to be extremely bossy and selfish and legalistic. I was hidebound and so unapproachable to many in my life. I know that I hurt so many folks that I really cared about along the way especially my family because my understanding of love --- real, true, unconditional love --- was skewed and usually limited to what I saw on the outside. I pray that I never go back to being that person again! This week I was really encouraged by two things, a call from my sister Ame and words from my friend Jon. Both talks, simply put, reminded me of the power and healing that come from looking beyond ourselves and our conveniences so that others may truly be loved well. I want to be that person more and more and am pondering how my actions can help love others especially those very different from me with real, no strings attached love. I hope that you too will ponder and seek to become the lovers that we were ALL always meant to be and strive to bring healing and joy into everyone's paths.
PS: Speaking of being a lover and world changer, if any of you get to see the movie Milk with Sean Penn, go see it! I saw it on Saturday, and it is a wonderful movie with a powerful story of what real love can do to change our world. :)
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