Goodbye New York.
Words I never thought I’d say. From the minute i stepped foot in this city over 10 years ago I loved it, every square inch of it… the noise, the crowds, the energy, even the smells. New York has let me experience so many new things, try new food, see new perspectives, went back to school, traveled near and far from here, fell in and out of love, done things we can’t even speak about publicly, I’ve felt the best and felt the worst here.
What I didn’t know when I moved here was who I’d get to share this journey with. You graduate college with your friends from school and you assume that’s it, but soon that gets augmented with your new co-workers, their friends, roommates, your intramural teams, your random bar people, etc. and the list goes on. I still look back in awe at the group of people I’ve been so fortunate to get to know over these years from back home in Elmwood Park, Boston University and now New York City. Not to brag but you all are an amazing, once in a lifetime bunch - entrepreneurs, documentarians, PHDs, lawyers, economists, surgeons, nurses, titans of industry, engineers, authors, artists, accountants, on-air talent, actors, government agents, top secret jobs I don’t even know about, social workers, teachers, builders, police officers, fire fighters, nuclear missile launchers and like me advertising folk. I’ve been able to learn so much and most importantly be so deeply inspired by all of you - your hard work, passion, determination, friendship and loyalty always drove me to push myself in those same areas and better my own self over these many years. I wish i could offer you more than just my thanks, but that's all I’ve got… a simple thank you…. for literally everything, for taking this idiot under your wing and showing him how this city and more importantly how this life works, for laughing with (or at) me, for teaching me, for being there for me, for dealing with me even when I’m a mess - physically (aka ceiling) or emotionally. I find myself thinking about you all everyday and I have literally no idea how I got so lucky. I’m so ridiculously, over-the-top grateful for every second I’ve spent with you. I’m going to miss you more than you’ll ever possibly know. Leaving is tough enough, leaving you all is torture. However that’s where my new family comes in with my fellow Remotes. No pressure but you’ve got some shoes to fill but judging by our early conversations you’re more than up to the task and I can’t wait to get to know you all
As I leave for the airport I wanted to share a little insight into my thought process for this whole thing. After I got into Remote Year I was about 50/50 on if I’d go or not - just wasn't sure if this crazy of a move was right for me. About 1am on a random Wednesday night I internet-stumbled across this poem and it sealed the deal for me as it presented one simple question at the end...
“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
Into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
How to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
Which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life”
-From “The Summer Day” - New and Selected Poems 1992 from Mary Oliver
Goodbye New York. I fucking love you.
My fellow Remotes, let’s make the most of this one wild and precious life.