“I’d known since I was a child that I was going to live in New York eventually, and that everything in between would be just an intermission. I’d spent all those years imagining what New York was going to be like. I thought it was going to be the most exciting, magical, fraught-with-possibility place that you could ever live; a place where if you really wanted something you might be able to get it; a place where I’d be surrounded by people I was dying to know; a place where I might be able to become the only thing worth being, a journalist.And I’d turned out to be right."—Nora Ephron, I Remember Nothing
Why New York?
I get that question all the time, and I don't have a great answer. To me, it has never been a question. As Ephron said, I've known since I was a kid that I wanted to live in New York.
Every time I'm in the city, from the first moment I smelled the distinctive subway air at nine years old, I've felt ALIVE. I visited something like 15 times prior to moving, and each time I'd feel like I was in a movie while walking down the street -- iPod blasting, smells wafting, people zig-zagging as I smiled, observed, and soaked it all up.
I always felt a little disappointed in myself when I'd tell people I was born and raised (and still living in) California. I loved being close to my family, I owned my condo, I owned a car, and I had a great job. Would I ever find the motivation to leave it all behind and try living life on the opposite coast? Was I cut out for it, or was it a dream meant only for others, an itch I'd never find the courage to scratch despite my frequent Jealousies?
I'm so thankful that I found that courage, and that the path to moving here has unfolded in such a beautiful way. I don't know how long I'll stay and I don't care -- right now I'm just living in the moment and taking in every single sensation of it. On that note...
An Important Announcement
Last week was a rollercoaster.
I arrived at midnight on Sunday, spent all day Monday preparing for the Make Sh*t Happen launch, and sold the course out in less than 24 hours on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning I felt happy, grateful and proud, but also exhausted and completely spent.
On Thursday, I found out that my dog Patches had been put to sleep just shy of 16 years old, a few short weeks after I kissed her on the nose to say goodbye, knowing deep down that it might be the last time I'd get to see her. By Friday, I didn't want to get out of bed.
I have been building and creating and working and GRINDING for five years (if not my whole life) -- most recently between Google, the blog, the book, and my course. When I quit Google, I thought time would magically open up before me and to a certain extent it did -- but I felt so much pressure to earn income to prove to myself that I'd made the right decision that I never really took a break.
It's time for a break.
I'm going to take Q4 off from building. I'll still be blogging, but I'll be slower to reply to emails, comments and requests. I may not take as many meetings (as much as I wish I could say yes to everyone and everything).
I won't be creating something new unless it's so exciting that I jump out of bed to work on it with glee. I am going to focus my energy on my existing coaching clients and on helping my kick-ass inaugural Make Sh*t Happen crew find smashing success. I'll be taking a very reactive approach to everything else so I can prioritize my health, happiness, and rejuvenation -- which will allow me to serve you even better in 2012 and beyond.
I hope you'll stick around.
I might be quieter, but I'm not going away. I just need to exhale a little bit...to remember that it's okay to relax and to learn HOW to do that over a sustained period of time. I'm going to work less and get out more -- New York City is a great catalyst for that. I don't want to be inside 24/7 when I have so much excitement waiting right outside my door.
To Patches
The greatest dog I could have ever asked for. To a dog who lived a long beautiful life, who loved her weekly swims in the Google fountains and running free around the parking lot afterward.
To a dog who hung out in the living room only when we were eating dinner and there were scraps to be had, who jumped in the driver's seat of the car if she thought we'd be leaving without her, and who sat quietly at my feet and joined me many days this summer for walks around the block while I was staying at my mom's house in-between book tour stops.
To a dog with a huge heart, baby face, and childlike spirit all the way until her last days. After 16 joyful years, we will miss you tremendously and remember you forever.
A Parting Video for the NYC Move
In lieu of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' Empire State of Mind, I leave you with this video instead:
[youtube id="exmwSxv7XJI"]