Back in October I was in a pretty dark place and amused myself by wandering around New York and taking photos of whatever made me smile. I’m in a much healthier place now, which means exploring alternative work/life/living options but also becoming increasingly positive about the possibility of staying where I am and continuing to do what I’m doing. The more time I spend in New York, the more I like it. Most days, anyway.

Lately I’ve been taking pictures of things that surprise me, things that don’t instantly come to mind when I think “New York City”. Below are some of my recent favorites. Enjoy!

There’s no question in my mind that New York is an incredible city. It’s unlike any place I’ve ever been and I’ve been a lot of places. I will never be sorry for the time that I’ve spent here, even the times I looked into the East River and wondered what it would take to disappear. New York has made me stronger, braver, more compassionate. I am continually astonished at how hard people work here, how much energy there is for all things at all times. The more people I talk to, the more stories I hear. Everyone is on a quest for something and everyone is sure they’ll find it.

I hope they do.