NYC.....what is it about you?

This first week has nearly flown by but at the same time has not felt rushed at all - which is exactly what I wanted. Like any holiday or break you take it can take a day or so to unwind from the stresses of normal life and just relax....

My first full day I decided to just walk around and reacquaint myself with the city I have long held a love affair with. I was not wanting to push my way way through the hustle and bustle of tourists in Time Square (there is nothing fun or relaxing about that) so I decided that heading downtown to the Village (Greenwich Village) was exactly what I needed. Staying on 27th St it was a pleasant walk taking me through a variety of neighbourhoods as I meandered my way down. It was feeling really good to be back, as if I had never left. I finally arrived at Washington Square and perching on a bench opposite the fountain I was reminded of the lyric from Sweet Charity...

'Run to the Bronx or Washington Square, no matter where I run, I meet myself there....'

and in this moment it was very true. I sat and all the thoughts I had been trying to block out, trying to stop overwhelming me, came rushing in, as by stopping I had opened the door for them. No matter where you go you can't escape your problems and worries. Not that I was trying to do that by coming here. Coming to NYC was to remove myself from everything and just take a time out and try and get some perspective. So I decided while sitting on that bench that I was not going to be sad for my trip, I was not going to let things get me down nor would I ignore them, but in that moment I decided I was just going to enjoy being in this city, being on a holiday....just being. Taking in everything around me, relaxing and then seeing what happens at the end. So I stood up, walked out of Washington Square taking the first steps on my new journey.....

New York state of mind....

So I am off to NYC. It’s been 2 years since my last visit and, quite honestly, I can’t wait to get back. Back to the ‘Big Apple’...

My sojourns to the ‘city that never sleeps’, thus far, have been crammed packed with holiday fun – Broadway shows, shopping, Broadway shows, tourist attractions, Broadway shows…you get the picture. But this time it’s something else that leads me there. It’s time for a little soul searching…

Life has a way of throwing curve balls when you least expect it and this last year or so I have been hit with a few, well I have been dodging them, but finally they caught up with me and all at once it seems. When that many balls hit you, sometimes it’s very difficult to just get back up. This is one of those times. So I finally decided it was time for me to take a time out for myself. To do some self-healing and work out what the next path will be on my life journey. Where I want to be. How can I get back to being ‘me’, which at the moment, feels like some far off distant person that I can see but not quite make out. So where do you go to escape the world, where you can get lost in the hustle and bustle yet also find places to be on your own? Somewhere that feels familiar and fills a void…well for me it’s New York City.

So unlike my previous trips, where I have given a day to day account of all my exciting adventures, this blog will be different. I don’t know what I am going to do and what’s going to happen. I am just going to wake up each day and see where it takes me. Hopefully to a place of some clarity. Hopefully to a bar with some great cocktails. My bags are packed and I am ready to go…I think it’s time to spend a couple of weeks living the Carrie Bradshaw fantasy. I will try to share what I can. See you on the other side….