to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose, under heaven

It is time. Time for a lot of things in Angela’s life, but altogether, it’s a time for change.

Naturally, I’d say that a lot of people fear change, and let’s face it – change can be scary. It’s the unpredictability, the not knowing what will happen, the divergence from your day-to-day routine. I think that’s why many people remain complacent and comfortable in their lives, even though they might be unhappy. They don’t want to change because that would mean uncertainty, something different that might be worse…but might be better too?

I think I naturally crave change. If life becomes too stagnant, too predictable, I get the urge to do something big, something different. Shake things up a bit. And that’s why I’ve decided to go teach English in South Korea for the next year. It’s a bold move, probably the wildest one I’ve made yet in all of my 26 years. It will mark many firsts for me. It will be the first time I live in another country. It will be the first time I’m this far away from all of my family and friends for a significant period of time. It will be the first time I teach in a classroom, and it will be the first time I live completely on my own in my own apartment.

It’s hard to believe that I’ve lived in New York for 3 years now. Where does the time go? Lately, I’ve been pondering the thought that this might be the last time I ever live in New York City. Who knows where my life may take me next? It’s bittersweet. I feel like New York is one of those places that if you come into it knowing what you want from it – opportunities abound and the city is your oyster. When I moved here, I had a plan and a goal and I achieved everything I wanted. I was happier than a pig in shit. No other place in the world could have offered me the experiences and challenges that this city has. However, conversely, if you’re in New York without a plan, lacking direction, it can eat you alive. New York is both your best friend and your greatest enemy. And right now, for me, it’s just too damn expensive. Every day feels like a struggle. So maybe one day, when I have my life back on track with a fresh set of goals and plans – I’ll return to New York with a new perspective and the doors will once again open for me. Or if I don’t return, I can at least look back on these times as some of the greatest in my young life: outdoor pool parties in the summer, live music, rooftop bbqs with friends and a breath-taking city skyline view, stumbling home at 5am after a wild night of bar-hopping and non-stop dancing, exploring city parks, riding the rides at coney island or running on the beach at night in the winter, riding a motorcycle through manhattan, boat rides on the Hudson/East River, fireworks from rooftops on the 4th of July, specialty slices at Vinnie’s, Irish iced coffees and people-watching at Enids, day-long drink-a-thons with your friends on a Sunday, living in Williamsburg – one of the hippest neighborhoods in New York, being a part of something bigger than yourself and loving every second of it.

New York will always hold a special place in my heart, but for right now it’s time for change. My nomad friend Dave from Boston said something interesting to me the other day that I really resonated with. He said, “Ang, you and I, we were meant for bigger things. We’re unlike everybody else. We live for the adventure.” And he’s right. I do. Should life be anything but an adventure?