crossing the comfort zone

So I realized I keep on mentioning the fact that moving to New York "broke me out of my comfort zone" but I never really explained how it exactly happened, so here you go....

It all started at the first week I was here. I slowly began to realize everyone's daily routine was beyond hectic. I knew a few people here in the city but it didn't take long for me to see how busy a New York day was. I wasn't really on "the grind" the first few weeks I lived here. I began looking for jobs and apartments but found myself with a lot of spare time to explore the city and no one to explore it with.

I decided to just walk.
and walk some more.

I found myself stumbling to the New York Public Library and for the first time ever (without force by a teacher) I got a Library card. I found myself getting lost in the isles of the Library most of the days.

By night time I would call anyone and everyone I knew in the city hoping someone would get a happy hour drink on their way home from work- because I mean c'mon I just moved to the city don't they want to see me!!- but I found people needing to meet deadlines or too exhausted to do anything but go home.

One day I walked into a cute little bar because to be honest, I just liked the tikki lights hanging outside and I was desperate for a margarita after a lonely/stressful day getting lost in the subway. I sat down at the bar (very confused on where to put my enormous coat- note that in New York bars there is a hanging lever right underneath your chair) I think it was obvious I was .5 seconds away from a mental break down when the bartender kindly gave into a conversation with me. His name was James and from this day forward we became bar friends (aka I would come in all the time and would order a "spicy margarita" even thought that is not what it is called here and he would call me Cali girl). Although it was strictly a bartender-customer friendship I valued the New York insight he always gives me and well, obviously the free drinks every now and then. He will never understand how simply talking to me at the bar helped me grow into the city.

I began doing so many things alone. And kept on pushing myself to be more independent. Just the other day I told myself I needed to go to a restaurant alone (something I have always been scared/ too awkward to do). Okay... so maybe I didn't fully conquer that one but I did go to a corner pizza shop and ate at a table there alone so that kind of counts right?

What I'm trying to say is that how I allowed myself to step out of my comfort bubble was to not be afraid to be alone. I never realized how codependent I was until I was forced to be alone... and now look at me! I go to the public library, happy hour and dinner alone! I challenge you to have a little more "me" time and I truly feel like you will see a side of yourself you never knew existed.