Fragility vs. Resilience

Since September 11th is only a few days away, I feel like I have to address the topic in some sense. Since I've been a New York resident for nearly three years now, I can't ignore the impact that day ten years ago had on this area. Day to day reminders exist, whether it is by driving past a memorial on Long Island or walking alongside Ground Zero itself. I have never been an overly patriotic individual, but living in New York has instilled a certain level of pride in the strength a city can have. Ten years ago, I could not have imagined that I would be living in New York. I could not have imagined spending large parts of my week in and out of Manhattan. I could not have imagined that my younger sister would be living in the Financial District, the sun glaring off of the metal structure of the new 1 World Trade Center outside her window. Yet, here we are. We are living, working, and growing up in this fast-paced world of the metropolitan area.

Through all of this, I thought what I had learned is that humans are fragile. That we are too caught up in the routine to see the beauty. Merriam-Webster defines fragility as "the quality or state of being easily broken or destroyed." After pondering on this, I realized that while we may have fragile states or qualities, what we are most is resilient. Resilience, defined as "an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change," is far more accurate. The beauty of our lives is that we are ever-changing. Living in New York has taught me that the most. A response to change is one of the wonders of being alive. We are far more adaptable than we give ourselves credit for. 

We live a beautiful life, even amidst its chaos. And part of what makes it so beautiful is our ability to remember, to memorialize, and our will to continue. While I am unsure of what the future has in store, I am certain that New York will always be one of the places I call "home." And the strength of New York is something that is admirable. For making me realize this, I will always be grateful that I have the chance to grow here. 

& we'll see what September brings.

I'm a girl of cool nights and dark skies, & there's no better time of year for me than Fall. Since my birthday always falls somewhere around Labor Day Weekend, the "unofficial end of summer" is marked by birthday celebrations & a call to the cooler nights of Autumn. So, since today is chilly and rainy here in New York, I thought I'd post a few of my favorite fall items at the moment. Enjoy!

1. Black Coach flats. They were a gift from my mom, and they are perfect for early Fall weather. They can get me through the days of denim, as well as go with a blouse and cranberry colored skirt. They're my favorite basic shoes right now.

2. Wraps & capelets. This plaid Jessica Simpson capelet is my go-to for a cool day when I don't want to wear a jacket. Throw it over a long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of leggings, and you're good to go. I'm also obsessed with animal print wraps. One will be circulating in my wardrobe this season.

3. Philosophy 3-in-1 Harvest Spice. This pumpkin orange scent wakes me up in the morning and reminds me of Fall nights at home-serving a double duty!

4. Halloween decorations. I know it's only September, but Halloween decorations have made their way out of the boxes and onto my shelves! It's never too early to celebrate the harvest season, and I've spotted a ton of cute decorations this year for reasonable prices (think Marshalls, TJ Maxx, The Christmas Tree Shop, & Target. Also visit Etsy.com for some handmade goodies!)

Hope you're all enjoying this preview of Fall just as much as I am!

25.

It's the big day - I just turned 25! Here are some serious (and not so serious) lessons I've learned over the years! 

25 Things I’ve Learned in my 25 Years:

1. Embrace bedtime. Sleep in your best friend. Close your eyes and enjoy every second before you fall asleep just ‘being.’
2. Bloody Mary’s aren’t a universal hangover cure. In fact, they might just make your hangover worse.
3. The music your parents listened to in the car when you were a kid (you know, those songs you always rolled your eyes at), well, they’re pretty cool. And they even make it onto your iPod.
4. It’s okay that you don’t have the courage to get a tattoo. The fact that you have one in your mind makes you just as badass.
5. Acne just doesn’t go away. Clean & Clear is always your best friend.
6. Always iron your clothes (even if it is done a little obsessively.)
7. Fad diets really don’t work. But counting calories does.
8. Forget counting calories. It’s okay to indulge sometimes.
9. If you’re in a bad mood, don’t put on sweatpants. They only make you feel worse.
10. $4 hair dye still does wonders (terrible, frizzy wonders).
11. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor – truer words have not been spoken.
12. QVC is not just for your mother (Isaac Mizrahi, Rachel Zoe, & Bare Escentuals, oh my!)
13. You might not look like Avril Lavigne anymore, but at least you didn’t have to tattoo your signature onto your boyfriend’s arm.
14. Chuck Taylor’s never go out of style.
15. You’re not too old for a crazy night out with friends (okay, maybe it ends at midnight and not 4am, but it’s still a good time!)
16. Your family might drive you crazy, but you drive them crazy too. No matter what, they don’t leave your side during tough times, so don’t leave theirs.
17. Christmas music is always allowed. Even in the summer.
18. Bad decisions are inevitable. You’re allowed to make them as long as you learn from them.
19. A lot of people like to call you their friend. Be careful-they define the word loosely.
20. You can be frustrated. You can cry. Just don’t whine. Whining leads to inaction and that never solved a problem.
21. It’s not always the end of the world.
22. What was a fight with your boyfriend this morning is often not a fight with your boyfriend this evening. A few hours to clear your head can do wonders.
23. Treat yourself to a luxury once in awhile. C’mon, you know you work too hard not to get those shoes in Nordstrom!
24. There’s no greater bond than that of sisters.
25. Sometimes, you just have to say “it is what it is.”

it's my party...

Well, the moment is upon me – my 25^th birthday is tomorrow. While it’s not quite a ‘milestone’ birthday, it has long been a secretly dreaded age for me. Most of you are wondering why, & my parents would certainly look at me like I was crazy and mutter “but you’re so young!” While I’d grimace at them, I know that they’re right. While 18 year old Liz couldn’t imagine what being 25 would be like, I’m comfortable in saying that it has brought me to a good place. Maybe not a perfect place, but a place that I’m comfortable growing into. No, I’m not sure where I’ll be next year, what graduating from law school will bring, or what kind of job I’ll have (in my mind, it’s with some amazing real estate law firm with a desk that has a view). And while I may not be engaged like most of the girls I went to college with, and my hips may have gotten just a little bit wider, I’m learning to find the good in my mid-twenties. Graduation from law school? At least I’ll have a law degree! No job yet? Consider it an adventure! Not engaged? I’m lucky I have a boyfriend! Wider hips? Curves!

I have to admit, it’s an interesting place to be. It sounds so cliché to say I’ve grown wiser, and I’m not even sure it’s true. But I do think I’ve grown. And I do think I’m going in the right direction (let’s just pretend that direction is 5 years away from 30-I’m still getting used to 25!).

I hope you’ll join me for my days studying on Long Island, my weekends in New York City, and my traveling to my family in Pennsylvania (with some added adventures along the way). And no matter what your age, I hope you find a little part of yourself in my day-to-day doings. Mostly, I’m looking forward to learning more about all of you, and this thing that never goes away: growing up.

The Launch

You're invited to join me on September 3rd, 2011 for the launch of this new project of mine - The 25 Year Old Liz. Please check back often for a glimpse into the life of a girl in her mid-twenties, her laughter & tears throughout the year, and a look into what a law student does in her free time. 


Hope to see you there!