With 8.5 Million people, speaking 800 languages, packed into 305 square miles, New York City is the only place that asks everyday “Are you sure you wanna live here?” For 10 years my answer was “YES!” and here’s why.
New York City is full of people flat broke from high rents in tiny spaces and yet, they themselves are full of hope, ambition and dreams.
Each day, you decide to live here with intention. You answer back, “yes New York, I belong.” You love here, you work here, you cry here and you are inspired here.
With every passing day, my heart aches a little for my 200 square foot Gramercy Park apartment in The Sage House with views of the Chrysler and Empire buildings. To me, it was a treehouse in Manhattan, a place I too dreamed, loved and cried in. It’s also where I lived when I met the love of my life, my Husband Bello.
Tomorrow being our 5th Anniversary of the day we met, we are reminded of how our love story could have only begun in Manhattan. We were two Introverted Artists from different countries, drawn to a city that inspired us.
New York City teaches you to believe in your dreams and fight for them without relent, or you will fail.
Rents are high, subways are hot, getting laundry and groceries into 5th floor walk-ups are just that much harder. Homeless break your heart and you will see or smell something you wish you had not, daily. Here there are no easy passes.
Yet, her streets are brimming with possibilities and the people who believe in them. It’s a city of people on the brink of their dreams, their energy is electric and infectious. To struggle and to succeed in New York City, is to live a life worth living.
In New York City, we formed our ourselves, our courtship, our marriage and our mutual dream to live life in pursuit of our passions, photography and writing. We believe in fighting for our dreams, in part because we made it independently and as a couple, in New York City. Thank you Manhattan, for your passion, your grit, your determination, your tenacity and my Love. May you ever stand tall and forever glimmer in the sun.
