NYC: 4 Years Later
It’s been a while since I’ve done any activity here on my Tumblr page. For months I’ve been saying I was going to get back to this - blogging, specifically, and sharing more of my thoughts. But life happens, schedules happen, and things often get pushed back. Today, though, I couldn’t let the day go by without finally doing a written post. Why? Because today is of special significance...
Today, June 12th, marks four years of me living in New York City. Each New York-versary (yep, just made up that word) I have is special in it’s own way, reminding me of what I’ve been through and how I truly am a strong, blessed, survivor. But this year, for some reason I’ve really been eyeing the calendar with the approach of this date. And honestly, I’m not quite sure why.
I have been trying to figure out why this one seems so big to me. The number four doesn’t hold any personal significance to me. Nothing particularly special was happening today. So, I think it’s just the basic fact that it really has been four years, and the time has flown by so incredibly quickly.
I think I often take New York for granted. More so than that, I think I just so easily (and understandably so) get caught up in life, the hustle and bustle, the daily routines, and more, that I don’t stop enough to give myself credit and remind myself of where I am - both literally and figuratively.
Since I was young, I’ve said I was going to live in New York. Ever since then, I’ve always done things to get me here. Whether it was visiting friends who lived here, doing programs that allowed me to live here for a period of time, or always staying in touch with business and personal contacts I made over time, so that no trip I had here prior to moving was completely leisure. There was always some aspect of business.
Six months before moving to the city, I began looking for internships and jobs in the area. When I got accepted to one, the hows or what ifs never crossed my mind. My window of opportunity to get here was small, but I never second guessed it. I had four weeks to get my stuff together. And me, my one way plane ticket, and my two big suitcases have been here ever since.
Nothing about this journey has been easy. Nothing. Don’t be fooled by Instagram filters, tweets, or ten second Snapchat stories. But what I can say on this here four year anniversary is that I’ve made it, am still making it, and am still here. That’s all that matters. If I told you all the things that have happened to me over these years...or shoot, throughout these first six months of 2016 alone...you wouldn’t believe it; and would more than likely question how and why I’m still here. Some days, I don’t know. But I have this new personal goal of less overthinking and just doing, just being.
Do I know how long I’ll be in New York? No. (So stop asking me :] ) Yet, what I do know is that I’m still here living this life, in the place I’ve always said I would be, pursuing the dreams I’ve always said I’d be pursuing. I’ve had some great opportunities that continue to make way for more.
So, thanks to everyone who’s supported and even those who haven’t. I have been blessed with an incredible support system, near and far. Especially incredible parents who continue to understand and believe in what I’m going after.
Also, today, for one of the few times ever, I thank myself for holding on and still being here. Each day, each moment I prove my own strength to even myself. So, cheers to you Morgan Taylor Jones. Keep moving. Keep going. Keep fighting. We got more work to do. Congrats on these four years.
xo, MTJ
