Despite being someone who's gone through a lot of change in the past three years, I don't think I handle it all that well. I’m the type who likes to juggle a million things at once, constantly adding more to my plate if I feel like I'm not doing "enough." Then, before I know it, I find myself caught in another cycle of doing things because I feel like I have to, and I start to forget why I chose them in the first place. I forget why I made the change, why I fought so hard to make it happen. I'm currently working on breaking that habit—something I’ve carried with me my entire life—but it's definitely a slow and steady process.
It’s hard to believe it’s been six months since I came back home with bags stuffed with everything I owned from France. It feels like just a month or two ago. This realization hit me recently, but in the span of these six months, I’ve managed to rebuild a life and reconnect with people here in New York. So, I wanted to share a bit about where I am and what my life looks like now.
New Job
I’ve been job hunting since February, and anyone who’s been through it in this market knows that searching for a job is practically a full-time job itself. I was applying nonstop, scouring websites, scrolling through LinkedIn, and constantly tweaking my resume. I went through multiple interview rounds only to hear that they’d gone with another candidate. It was exhausting, but I kept telling myself that the right job would come along when the time was right. I was fortunate to be back at home, so I didn’t have the financial pressure of managing a household while unemployed.
Sure enough, at the end of August, I started a new job in Diversity and Inclusion—exactly what I’ve been aiming for since I first learned what DEI was! On my first day, as I walked through the doors, I found myself silently praying, "Please, just let this be a normal job. Don’t let this be another place where I end up crying in the storage room."
Well, whoever was listening heard me loud and clear. I am completely in love with my job, my team, and my coworkers. They make me laugh, they support me, and they’ve made this the best job I’ve ever had. I had a moment during that first week when I sat at my desk, totally amazed—I get to read DEI reports and get paid for it! I used to do that for free!
I get to travel for work now which makes me feel very cool! The photo above is my boss and I playing pool (spoiler: I won).
New Friends
I’m usually a social butterfly, but coming back home felt like starting from scratch when it came to friendships. I’d managed to keep in touch with a few high school friends and acquaintances in the area, but I didn’t have a close-knit group to go out and explore the city with. So, after job hunting, building a social circle became my second priority.
I immediately jumped on Bumble BFF, which had been a lifesaver for making friends in Paris. I was surprised to find that the vibe was totally different here. In Paris, most of the women I clicked with weren’t Paris natives, but in New York, the majority of people I was meeting for dinner were born and raised here.
Back in 2019, I used to attend Japanese language meetups to make friends and practice speaking, so I decided to give them another shot. It worked—I made some wonderful new friends there. Pretty soon, I became the go-to person for organizing big meetups.
I’d send out a mass text to 20 or so people—both guys and girls I’d met—and see who was up for different events. Before I knew it, I had a diverse and fun mix of people to talk to, hang out with, and now, call my friends.
New...Me?
There’s always a self-development component to my posts—you should know that by now! So, here’s the deal: I’m a famous hater of exercise. If you’ve ever met me, you know I’m not the kind of girl you’ll see heading to hot yoga, dressing up for a Pilates class, or—God forbid—going for a run.
But since moving back home, I’ve been using and abusing my Google Calendar to schedule almost everything I do. Recently, I stumbled onto a method that actually seems to work for me when it comes to fitting exercise into my routine. Here’s the trick: I block out just 15 minutes every other day for exercise. Then, I hop on my exercise bike (yes, the one in the photo above) to “warm up.”
However, by the time those 15 minutes are up, I usually feel more inclined to keep going! From there, I’ll branch out into a short YouTube fitness video, lift some weights, or just keep biking while putting on a TV show.
I’m not about to claim I’ll be shredded this time next year, but I feel really positive about how I’ve been able to make exercise a more consistent part of my life.
Being back home has given me a chance to get to know myself better. I’m living with my parents again, but this time, I’m stepping into a brand-new phase of life—with my engagement and my new “big girl” job. I’m learning to give myself more grace: saying no to things I don’t want to do, stepping away when things feel overwhelming, and really guarding my peace.
From the outside, I’m sure I might seem “selfish.” But the truth is, I’m prioritizing myself and focusing on understanding me. What do I truly want to do? How can I improve my life and the lives of those around me? How can I be a better partner, a better sister? This doesn’t mean I’ve suddenly transformed into Mother Teresa, but there’s definitely truth to the idea that your brain fully develops at 25. I feel more solid in who I am and what I want.
At the same time, I’m starting to feel the creep of age—not just for me but for my family too. My parents recently celebrated 32 years of marriage, and with my own wedding coming up next year, I’ve been reflecting a lot on my future. I’m asking myself some big questions: When will I start tackling those “adult” milestones I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid?
I’m also feeling more appreciative of things I used to take for granted—like having a supportive family, a roof over my head in such an expensive city, and good health. These thoughts have come up before on my blog, but they’re always there in the back of my mind, shaping how I move forward.
In this season of self-discovery, I’m taking myself on dates, spending time alone, and indulging in hobbies that make me happy—like researching vintage fashion or diving deep into creative writing. And honestly? I’m really happy. :)
I’m sorry it took me so long to post this. I can’t promise I’ll be back tomorrow, but this blog is always on my mind. It feels like a time capsule of growing up, and it’s so precious to me. Even if no one reads these posts—if they just drift into the internet void—it still serves as a beautiful collection of my thoughts, photos, and moments. I know I’ll keep coming back to it, years and years from now.
In any case, I’ll see you soon. Until then, thank you so much for reading!
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