“One’s life and passion may be elsewhere, but New York is where you prove if what you think in theory makes sense in life.”
Ever since I jumped in a cab at LaGuardia, I've kept a note on my iPhone of things I've noticed about New York. Things I see, things I learn, things that make me happy, things that make me sad. It's a really long list, and full of really random things. But I like to think that one day I'll be able to look back and read it and remember certain moments about my first couple of months here. I'll be able to remember the little things. And that's important; because to me, the little things are the big things in the end. Of course the big things mean a lot when they happen, but the little things fill every moment of your days in-between. The little moments are what ultimately make up your life, so it's important to remember them.
In no particular order, the following is a list of some of the little things that have made me smile since I got here.
A poster in the gay club I visited that read "Love is a terrible thing to hate."
Texts from people that I miss.
City dogs and city dogs that have owners who resemble them.
The convenience store I walk by every day puts flowers for sale outside, and they get fresh ones every three days or so. Every time I walk by, the buds have bloomed a little more than last time I saw them. Every three days it starts over.
Attractive strangers on subways.
Doormen on my street who nod and say "good morning" on days when I'm not having a good morning.
Sitting on a bench in a park where no one knows my name and reading poetry.
Church.
Things that bring people together. Protests, block parties, flash mobs, Union Square chess tournaments, etc.
The bakery down the street leaves their leftover bread on the sidewalk at night instead of throwing it away.
Grande dirty chia with soy.
The way people look at you differently when your heels click on the sidewalk.
People who love each other still hold hands even though it makes it terribly difficult to navigate busy sidewalks.
Art. Everywhere. All the time. New York City is art.
The people who pour their heart out into singing something on a busy city street. The people who stop to listen.
The at-home feeling of stepping into a book store.
People's sincere appreciation for parks. People don't take room to breathe for granted here. It means more when you don’t always have it.
The word "y'all".
When the sun sets and you can only see the part of it that's framed by buildings on either side of the street you're looking down, but it's still so pretty.
Men buying flowers in outdoor markets.
How long thunder lasts here. It rolls on forever, bouncing off all the buildings.
Those moments when it hits you that you can truly be anyone you want and do anything you want here. And you will. I smile every time.
Little moments are little but they are good. Take note of them.