February blog is here! “NYC - Hello!”
What does it mean to be a New Yorker? What does it mean to me to be based back in NYC after being based in ATX for the last two years? So many questions, thoughts, feelings. In fact so much has been going on upon my return to the big apple that I can hardly catch my breath. That Manhattan vibe that never sleeps has gotten it’s claws in me and won’t let go; to be honest: oh how I love it so.
The list of to-do’s is vast indeed: apartment fixes; lifestyle and healthcare decisions to be made for my beloved mother; my own workdays inclusive of settling myself back EST-side. And then there is the need to socialize and let loose during the non-stop required daily actions. Whoosh! Not to mention the changes to take in and adjust to in this grand metropolis which, even though I was back and forth between the two cities in the last couple of years, still takes adjusting to on a day to day basis. What is happening to my city?
The prices! Damn. Fees have skyrocketed in the service industries IE for taxi/car services; dining and entertainment services; basic amenities such as electricity & groceries; wellness and beauty services. Inflation is one thing, but to experience a quadruple rise in only a couple of years is not sustainable for anyone except big corporations. And to consistently blame this on the supply chain issues that arose from the disastrous effects of the pandemic is not sufficient. Corrupt corporations pull the strings in our society and the people always suffer. Of course it is also up to the people to push back and right the wrongs as best we can. Let’s save our city from being unlivable for so many types of people who historically fled other places to live here due to the multiple opportunities provided including lifestyle affordability.
So…getting back to my question: what does it mean to be a New Yorker? To me it means to be a humane individual who is cognizant of the history of the city re our rich diversity in all aspects of society. Not simply in our diverse ethnic makeup, but in our diverse professional spheres, cultural sectors etc. To understand that in order to thrive and move forward in these staggeringly complex unprecedented times, we must be aware as NYers that this isle of Manhattan, and yes our other wonderful boroughs, has been home to, and continues to be home to a humongously diverse world in all meanings of the phrase, which is what has always made it a marvel of a societal epicenter home to titans of industry. That means that if you are calling yourself a New Yorker and you were not born and raised in the city, then you must adhere to our open-armed, welcoming-of-all mojo or you can not authentically call yourself a New Yorker. Yes, I was born and raised in Manhattan. ‘Nuff said. Appreciating the many opportunities the city provides for a person from a smaller town - foreign or domestic - means also understanding that gazillions of souls pass through this small island every day so: subways will be crowded and not always clean; streets will be hectic and loud; people will be direct and straight forward since we all have somewhere to get to. My strong suggestion is to not equate our quick ways with being rude. After living in many places including Europe and other US states, I can tell you that the often perceived politeness of let’s say southern US charm doesn’t always equate respect, kindness or courtesy. Give me directness any day over false niceties thank you.
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