SisuLiz

Start Singing the Blues

I'm headed up to New York tomorrow for work.  New York is a place that I have very strong feelings about.  I know, I know, ask anyone you know and they probably have very strong feelings about it.  It's one of those places that people either love or hate.  I happen to be on the love side.  Not just the love side, but the step into the city and feel my soul fill with excitement and contentment side. 

It's not the cheap thrills of New York that excite me; the skyscrapers and the glitz.  What draws me in is the energy of the city; how it changes throughout the day, but somehow seems the same.  The people; again, not the models or celebrities, but the people who have lived there forever and know nothing else.  The ability to find a little of anything anywhere within the city.  The idea of opportunity and the unknown and that everyday presents something surprising and interesting if you just take a minute to look for it.

I lived about 20 minutes outside of New York my freshman year of college.  Living there and that time of my life are some of the happiest moments I've had.  But, I think that my love affair with the city started long before that.  I visited New York with my family growing up and there was an immediate connection.  Something about my experienced whispered "Welcome Home".  I know this probably seems a little silly and oh so cliche, but I really can't help it.

So how do I deal with the fact that I live in an area that is anything but all of the things that I love about New York and that there appears to be no remote chance of moving there in the foreseeable future?  To tell you the truth, I had a really hard time dealing with it for awhile.  Why should you abandon the idea of embracing all the things you love for what is convenient right now?  Great question, and something that I have beat myself up over. 

My solution?  I choose not to think about it that way that anymore and instead choose to think of the things I actually do love in my life no matter where I live; a wonderful husband, great family, and the ability to choose your happiness in every moment.

Do I still love New York?  Of course, and I get a thrill every time I'm there.  But the better thrill is to have a home away from home, but love the home you go back to.

Starting Out

Having my own blog is something I've thought about for awhile, but haven't been able to get up the nerve to do it until now.  Even as I sit here typing these words, I question whether or not they're "good enough" or if I'll go back and change all of this.  There's something about putting your thoughts out there that is a bit intimidating.  But I have to tell myself that I already share my thoughts with people everyday, it just happens that this most often occurs through verbal conversations.  What's so different about putting them in a blog? 

Why am I doing this?  I'm doing this because writing is important to me, and this is a way to help me do that every day. 

What will I talk about?  I'm not quite sure yet.  Right now, I hope that this will be a way for me to open a new door to keeping in touch with family and friends.  How is that the conveniences of email, phone calls and IMs have become oh so difficult? 

Other than that, I hope this will be a creative outlet for myself as I continue to explore the things that interest me; writing, reading, cooking, entertaining and photography. 

So, welcome.  Here's to the journey ahead.