Sunday, December 4, 2011

Views That Inspire Me: #1


This Photograph represents the end of my struggles and beyond that fence as for the next days to come, is a bright new future with many possibilities.

Location: Dead End in Ozone Park, NY (Queens)
Camera: My HTC Amaze 4G (cell phone)

Thursday, December 1, 2011

And so I decided... (Story #1 Pt. 2)

In the winter of 2008 I took my most anticipated trip un north...finally! I had been in New Jersey the summer of 2005 and visited New York for the first time, but never saw the Big Apple at night. I couldn't be more excited. Back to 2008... I was presently living in St. Petersburg Florida, such a lovely place. I had been attending college for 2yrs now and got my heart broken, perfect timing to make crazy spur of  the moment decisions haha. After my trip to NJ/NY I decided I was going to be permanently moving up north, alone, at 21..and by the summer of 2009...oh boy!

It took a lot of what I thought was "proper" planning. The usual research on places to live (or people to live with, that is a whole other story, big fail), school to attend and a place to work. I honestly thought I had it all under control, but after it was too late the mistakes began rolling in.

Mistake #1:
Never count on someone to move in with you, specially if they are first timers, don't want to leave their parents, or just plain ol' think they are ready (but aren't at all).

Yea... so I was stuck with hustling for a place to live, in a city I didn't know much of...great (Let me add, this was one month before my move). Let's just say, THAT person had to hold me down in their home for the first five months I stayed in NJ as a way to make up for their last minute "change of mind" ...or maybe it was the right thing to do. It was a lovely stay. I was staying with one of my best childhood friends. Although I was upset at first, I realized it was best she decided she didn't want to move out after all or else we BOTH would have been struggling, and I'm not the selfish type *cough cough*.

So, I had arranged everything. OH! but I forgot to mention, I was taking all my things with me, including my car... (Mistake #2). Cool idea when you truly believe you'll be moving into your own place...*screaming* Where your furniture will fiiiiit!!!!...but by now we know that did not happen. The stay at my friend's house was great though, I have no complaints, I was treated like a princess and love her family! Now going back to...

Mistake #2:
Never ever ever in your life...EVER...arrange to take your belongings with you when you move from one state to the next.

 Let's just say the storage fees for five months did not really help my economic situation. Sell everything and take that money with you! I unfortunately was attached to my things...not anymore though :)

So far those are two BIG mistakes I made that really set me up for a whole lot of trouble. July 21st, 2009 I landed in Newark, NJ and left everything I loved and knew behind. My hardest times are yet to come.

Today is a NEW beggining... (Story #1 Pt. 1)

Its officially December, but what seems like a long time ago and completely different time...was yesterday, Novemember 30th. Who knew someone's life could change so quickly? My life took a turn for the best. Im still speechless and in shock. When you're used to dissapointments, good things come as a surprise that you refuse to believe. Although I know its real and OMFG! its happening...I still feel secure when I don't allow myself to become too excited. I go into this state in which I allow my mind to wander, sometimes taking me to places that I didn't even know I could reach...not because they were unattainable, but because I never was this way before, so blue.

Yesterday when they called me and I found out the news, I smiled the hardest I've smiled in about...lets see...8 months...well, a genuinely "I'm happy for myself" smile. Only I knew what this meant for me..or so I thought. Others knew the difference this would make in my life, but only "I" could fully comprehend the load of relief, joy and tranquility this change would bring into my life. Im so blessed. Yesterday, I got a new job. One that will indeed change my life and the way I live it.

After so many dark, helpless and lonely times, finally a ray of sunshine fought its way through. I'm thankful. But before you ask...don't worry, I'll tell you what happened. It all started with a decision I made back in 2009...one that I felt tempted to take back everytime life dropped it's shit on me.