By Laura Westman

New York is a crazy place. I think it goes without saying that most of us move here in pursuit of opportunity. Whether it’s a career, developing ourselves as artists, trying to figure out who we are in the world, or commitment to falling madly in love, something draws us here.

Then we get here. I don’t know about YOUR New York story, but mine was… well, let’s just say I didn’t share this with my parents until I was safely settled for about a year.  I’m happy to share the sordid details of my housing fiasco over drinks this Thursday, but the bottom line is that I was left feeling terrified, isolated, and convinced that moving here was actually a terrible idea.  I did eventually get my own place and do my best to settle in. Though after living in Washington, DC for the better part of seven years, it was completely weird to regenerate community from scratch.

Looking back, it’s easy to see that I threw myself into deep water:  moving here without family or many close connections, living alone without roommates for the first time, having a brand new coaching business based on a network I was now going to have to build, not to mention the five trips I took to Asia to train new life coaches that year.  The cherry on top?  Expecting myself to handle it like a champion.

I don’t think I’m the only one this has happened to.  Time after time, story after story, humans gravitate to New York — or stay in it! — in pursuit of possibility.  Reality can put a damper on it.  And this is where many New York stories end.  Fear, isolation, running ourselves into the ground, needing to do it all ourselves.

My New York Story is just that — the dramatic move into the city, the failure, the falling flat on my face, the isolation, the picking up the pieces, the daily choice to go meet someone new, the (yay!) falling madly in love, finally calling it home.

And in terms of our own New York Stories, what I love is that we constantly have the opportunity to rewrite what’s coming next.

The reason I adore Eventsy as a company is because of their commitment to giving people community, opportunity, and a place to let down their walls and truly be together.  It doesn’t hurt that the people are incredible, and the venues they choose are out of this world.  But knowing I’m always going to connect with someone new, feel safe, supported, and full of possibility?  That’s what keeps me coming back. That’s why I hunted them down to become a featured speaker.  Authenticity, community, and a ton of connection, no matter who you are or where you come from.

And my next New York Story?  It’s mine to create.  I hope you’ll be a part of it. That will make it exceptionally fun.

What’s your New York Story so far?  Comment below!

Or better yet, come out this Thursday and share it in person.  Then we can talk about what you want to create next. Let’s create our next New York stories together. Because that is always more fun.

In love and possibility,

Laura