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Moody Thoughts In Winter Layers

josephine ellen
Sweater: Banana Republic (similar, on sale!) | Faux Fur Vest: Express (similar) | Pants: Zara | Coat: Nordstrom (on sale!) | Boots: Louise et Cie (on sale!) | Belt: Asos

January 2016: I packed up my bags, bid farewell to the city and home I was born and grew up in, and moved across the country with my cat in tow. From sunny beachside towns in Los Angeles to bundling up in winter layers on the streets of New York City, so began the whirlwind of 2016 for me, and now what feels like suddenly, I’m staring down the barrel of year’s end.

Too often, I get asked, “Why New York City? Why move away from home?”
Many reasons flit to mind, but ultimately, it all comes down to a sort of visceral reaction to this city I could never shake off. It’s like when you read a novel or watch a film: you either get immersed in it and emerge back out with thoughts that plague you to night’s end, catalyzing fiery ideas and questions… or it all just falls flat.

To say it has been an easy transition would be a wild exaggeration, but to say that it got easier as the months flew by would be a more accurate statement.  If anything, this year has taught me that I can venture out of my comfort zone alone and come back better and stronger. I can’t say I’m the same person from a year ago, because the truth about life is that you only start discovering the great things about yourself and the space around you after you’ve mustered up the courage to let go of the comfortable, the easy, the settling.  It’s scary to let go of what’s familiar and safe, but you reap so much reward when you do so. Trust me, I experienced it first-hand this year.

Now that my first year in New York City is coming full circle and I’m finding myself more adjusted to the cold (although, if you ask me again in frozen February how I feel, I might have a different answer for you), I’m so pleased I can reflect upon this year and feel grateful that I was bold enough give myself up to uncertainty to chase after daunting dreams, and understand that my life doesn’t have to peak at “good enough.” I hope that come 2017, you too will be inspired to run after new opportunities that will push you to bigger, stronger, and greater, because you owe it to yourself to live the life you love, or at least try.

josephine ellenjosephine ellenwinter layers winter layerswinter layers

Comments

    • josephine says

      Aw thank you!! You’re so amazing moving to Seattle from Japan by yourself! Seattle is an amazing city and I’m so glad to hear you’re pursuing your dreams there 🙂 I wish you all the best!!

  11. yuka says

    wow you are so brave to pack up and go. moving across country is one of the most adventurous things you can do. Especially going from sunny ca to freezing cold ny but it sounds like you are adjusting well. and bonus, you look like a true new yorker in the all black look! I love it!

    http://www.prettyinleather.net

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