“What is a legacy?
It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see
I wrote some notes at the beginning of a song someone will sing for me
America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me
You let me make a difference” ~ Hamilton: The Musical
Here in the states we are gearing up for the Fourth this weekend. Filled with beach days, hot dog contests, barbecues, fireworks and of course celebrating our freedom from the Motherland.
While it is a time for some summer celebratin’ it is also a time to be thankful and grateful for our Independence and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can be where and who we are today.
While many people have fun and exciting plans for this weekend, I am just plan happy that I have a lone weekend at home enjoying my brand spanking new AC (hello cold apartment!), time to write and reflect, explore other parts of this city and most importantly just be.
Having lived here for four + years, I haven’t taken the time to explore this city like I should. I know my neighborhood inside and out, but other beautiful neighborhoods like Williamsburg or Tribeca not so much. This weekend is a chance to change that. And heck maybe I can even play tourist and go to Coney Island and watch the hot dog contest!
There is always so much to do here!
Since May 1, I have only spent two weekends at home (gasps!) I am in no way shape or form complaining. I love traveling and love seeing all my friends and my family. But I also enjoy spending some peace and quiet in my humble little haven.
July and August will be no different as I embark on more wanderlusting, experiencing new and old places which I will be sure to write about here.
In the mean time I will enjoy my beautiful city. The peace and quiet of having nothing planned, basking in the solitude. As much as the wanderlusting life is exciting, it is extremely important to take the time to soak those experience in. To regroup and most importantly just be. After all, new places, traveling, people, all of it comes and goes, but at the end of the day we are still stuck with ourselves. So this weekend remember to take a moment to be. Be grateful. Be in love. Be joyful. Be in the experience and not a passerby.
Happy Fourth everybody!
What are your plans this weekend?
A couple things I like to do alone in NY:
-Wake up super early on a weekday and walk around the busiest parts of town when there are still barely any cars/people around. Make my way to Rockefeller center and be the first person to get up to top of the rock. The peace and solitude up there so early in the morning is amazing!
-Another not so alone activity, but one that now a few of my friends who live there have also tried is setting up a neighborhood tour with “Big Apple Tours”. You can pick any area/neighborhood you want and you get connected with a resident/volunteer. I met a 20+ resident of the village and we spent a few hours together walking all around the village and she was telling me all about her neighborhood. I got to learn about her life and what brought her to NY and what kept her there.
Granted there’s something magical about wandering around NY alone, there’s also something spectacular about meeting up with a random New Yorker who is volunteering their time to meet new people and show them around their neighborhood.
Thanks for the suggestions!:) I honestly think that is the best part! When the city that never sleeps is truly asleep in the early morning!:) I had never thought of going atop the rock first thing though (I have done Empire State but not the Rock:( ) I bet it is amazing! Thank you again for your suggestions and for reading! <3