This has been a week of a lot of change. Change is always hard, whether it goes as planned or not. This has been a week of new situations, new decisions, and new choices. None of this is easy. New things are rarely easy.

But things get better.

I’m beginning to like New York, which has surprised me. I didn’t know if I would. New York might be big, loud, and fast, but it also has a lot of beauty to offer. I wasn’t expecting that. For example:

The unexpected has been a welcome distraction. So has this cat, who I met when helping a friend move into her new apartment:

Moments of laughter have been a relief.

As hard as I’m trying to put one foot in front of the other, I have fallen more than once. It’s times like this that leave me overwhelmed with gratitude for friends all over the world. This week has reminded me that it’s okay to hurt, cry, and feel. It’s okay to be afraid and to reach out to those who love me.

I am not in this alone. This I know.

There have been moments that have taken my breath away in both positive and negative ways. Here was a good moment and I wasn’t the only one taking pictures:

Change is a process. It’s about taking life one step at a time and one day at a time. It’s about balancing each task as it arises so as not to be overwhelmed by the big picture.

This journey is not about looking backwards. It’s about acknowledging the past for what it is and moving forwards to be better each day. It’s about learning from the past and growing better for the future. I have a lot of figuring out to do, which is scary. I’m grateful to those who have promised to hold my hand along the way.

I’m telling myself that it’s okay to move slowly in the fastest place I’ve ever been. It’s okay to be uncertain. Today was one day and tomorrow will be another. Days will pass. Change will get easier.

This I know.