Let’s Unpack from my NY trip.
It has been two weeks since I returned from my NY trip.
I finally unpacked and started to ease back into my routines, which I fell off from due to traveling. I’m currently working on this because my habits are essential, and it sets me back every time I have to reset.
NY is always a vibe; I got to turn up with my girls, spend quality time with my family, see all my babies, and see my coworkers in person. I got my NY fix! I ate some of my favorite foods! Let loose and had a good ole time!
I love going home, but to be real, y’all, NY is exhausting.
Let me unpack that…
I moved out of NY almost three years ago (crazy!), and my life in the South is very different from what it was up North. I am in a tranquil season in life. I step out from time to time, but for the most part, I am home and living very low-key (on my balcony). I am used to my alone time, routines, and being still. It sounds boring, lol, but in this current season, it’s exactly what I need.
See, when I lived in NY, I was responsible and took on a lot, especially with my family; my social life was one big turn-up ALL the time. I mean, I was nonstop. My apartment was like a hotel; I just slept there and stored my belongings because I was never home. I was in those streets (more so because I was running from shit, but I’ll save that for another post). When I go home to visit, I stay with my family, and it feels like I press play, and life picks up where it left off the last time I was there… Seeing people, partying, and commuting into the office. I am constantly on the go with little to no rest or alone time. It’s really the hustle and bustle of NYC. I mean, it is the city that never sleeps.
In full transparency, as much as I love being home, it is too much at one time for me…
I am now at a point where I need to reset & recharge from socializing. I truly value my alone time and need it for my mental well-being. My body is used to resting and not crashing because I am constantly on the go. My first couple of visits back to NYC were rough because I was trying to see and do it all. This is why I had to set boundaries for family/friends and myself.
But this last visit was a little different; I did what felt right to me this time and kept my boundaries to avoid burnout by not overextending myself by trying to visit everyone and do everything. I was selective with my time and who I spent it with. I didn’t allow other people’s problems to become my own. I didn’t allow people or situations that would have usually triggered me to get to me… That’s a HUGE win, and I am very proud of myself for my growth because… Baby! The old me would have kicked down a door or two, but instead, I was #unbothered!
As I reflect and unpack my experience from this visit, I am very proud of who I am. I put in a lot of work to heal, and I see it all paying off. My priority before anything else is protecting my peace by any means necessary. I LOVE my family & friends, and NY will ALWAYS be my home, but I realized that life in NY isn’t my norm anymore, and I am ok with that. Some may have a hard time adjusting to this version of me. But that’s not a ME problem; that’s their problem. Sometimes people only see you as they have last known you… read that again… I want to dig deeper into this, but you must stick around for that blog post.
People think you can only set boundaries in adverse situations, but that’s not always true. Boundaries are put in place to AVOID reaching that negative space. I had a GREAT time in NY, but it’s because I had boundaries in place to avoid certain things from happening. I am sitting in my wins and celebrating my growth. Loving the way I show up for myself. That looks like putting myself first, operating within my capacity, staying true to myself, keeping my boundaries in place, and protecting my peace!
XO,
Moeluvin
