Most of us grew up in the suburbs, maybe even the countryside, thinking that's all we'd ever see.
It was just going to be street after street of the same houses and the same families for the rest of our lives. For some, that was okay. But not us. It wasn't necessarily bad. Just not for us.
So, through whatever means we could (school, work, whatever), we found our way to the lights and sounds of the Big Apple and nothing has been the same since.
Sure, this place has plenty of ups and perhaps even more downs. But those ups make it all worth it.
For us, some of the best of those “ups” would be these 10 incredible things that only happen after moving to NYC.
1. Meeting any/every kind of person imaginable
Who would have thought that we'd meet people from countries we can't even pronounce? All with the same hopes and dreams! Back home, we'd just be fascinated by the new kid at school from a few states over.
But sitting down with a new friend from across the world, talking about our favorite pizza, and then comparing our different home lives? Never in a million years.
[anad]
Sometimes, we look at the world and think how strange anything different than us is. Well, now we get to see how normal other cultures actually are, because it's just different people trying to make sense of this thing we call life.
2. Moving that much closer to your dreams
You don't move to a city like New York without a dream. No one comes here to just get by and have an average life.
Your Starbucks barista? He's working on, what he hopes to be, the next great American novel. That girl next you furiously typing on her computer on the train? She's working on her start-up's business plan. Your server with the kink in his shoulder? He's sore from his endless rehearsals for his dance showcase.
We all aspire to something greater than the norm, which probably explains why doing it is harder than ever. But that's not going to stop us. We'd rather try and fail than settle.
3. Developing a thick skin
In need of a reality check? Trust us, the city that never sleeps will surely give it to you. And with absolutely no apologies. Everyone's clawing their way towards a new life here and if you don't stay on your A game, then someone's going to snatch your opportunity. Before you know it, you'll be on a bus back home.
But instead of sitting around upset and worried all the time, take a deep breath and kick some ass. And don't let anyone stop you. There will be people who want to sleep in this sleepless city, but those people are only going to hold you back.
It may hurt, but you've come too far to let anything or anyone hold you back. Swallow your pride and keep a move on.
4. Finding tried and true friends
Every day, this world seems to fall apart a little bit more and success has become a survival of the fittest more than ever. Everyone wants someone from you and once they've got it, they'll de-friend you as quickly as they befriended you.
That's why finding a friend who'll stick with you has become a real modern treasure.
And, if you're lucky, you've done so already. That friend won't hold it against you for making them take a $40 cab because you got too drunk. That friend will let you cry on their shoulder even if they're having the best day ever. That friend isn't going anywhere without you.
5. Seeing things each day you'd never see back home
Performers on public transportation? Abstract, experimental films about unheard of gender expressions? Strange, multicolored fruit from South America? What is this stuff and where has it been all our lives! Well, thank god we get to see it all just on our way to work each day.
If all else fails, it's these things that keep us here. Our rent may keep us from eating tasty dinners, the cold may stab our ears to death, and the train may smell like urine. But, no matter what, it will always be far more interesting than our home town where nothing changes and nothing will ever change.
6. Developing your tastes for everything (art, culture, cuisine, etc.)
Most us never even heard of things like kale, quinoa, and cold-pressed juices before we moved here. Now, we can't get enough! Additionally, the closest we got to indepedent art was the movie Juno and John Mayer. These days, shelling out $14 for a Hollywood movie or listening to Top 40 just sounds like a sin!
It's not about being better than everyone else like a hipster, it's about being the best version of ourselves we can be. The rest of the world doesn't have access to the sophisticated and diverse cultures that overflow these streets.
In turn, we'd just be silly not to take advantage of them. Plus, many of these things for “city folk” really are better than their suburban/country counterparts.
7. Learning to appreciate where you come from
Very few of us want to admit it, but there's a little pride to be had in the towns we come from. The environment we grow up in, whether we like it or not, teaches us valuable lessons about who we are and what we hold dear.
And as much as you say, “God! I've gotta get out of my town,” there'll come a time when you look back and think, “Man, I miss that small thing I never even noticed.” And such a feeling isn't a bad thing.
It might sound cheesy, but you have to appreciate where you've been to know where you're going. How's that for inspirational?
8. Growing more and more independent
Being apart of the Millennial generation, we are constantly told we are immature and destined to fail. The economy sucks, there's no jobs, we're supposedly self-absorbed, and we're generally expected to live worse than our parents.
As much as we want to deny all of it, this negativity gets to us to some extent and we're always worried.
So when we achieve any amount of adulthood, especially in the battle ground that is New York City, it feels pretty f**king good. “Look at that! You see that meal? I made that. By myself. From scratch.”
Our parents probably knew how to do adult things earlier than we did, but it's always a great feeling. So enjoy that home-cooked meal, my friend!
9. Making yourself proud
If you're working and paying your rent consistently, give yourself a f**king pat on the back. You deserve it. An even extra big pat on the back if you're paying more than 30% of your monthly pay on rent and still making it work. That deserves a slow clap right there.
If you're even remotely on the way to what you want amongst all the competition and chaos in this city, then be proud of yourself. This city will kick when you're down and give you every reason to move away. And ignoring those reasons isn't easy.
[anad2]
High fives all around to the people making it work and remaining happy.
10. Becoming apart of a world-renowned city
A big part of the human condition is just to belong. Finding the place in this world that's just for you and doing what you can to keep that place great. And being a part of New York City, a universally-known landmark that has withstood the test of time, fills us with joy because we're finally a part of what we once yearned for.
Sure, being squished between two businessmen on the train during rush hour doesn't feel glamorous at all, but this city isn't just about glamour.
It's about doing what you need to do and finding happiness within that process. Plus, those rush hours are a part of what makes New York function. Instead of watching the people go by on TV, you're living with them. You're finally one of those adults who know what they're doing. And that's a damn good feeling.