Pressing Pause in NYC: Why Pivoting Isn’t Quitting
Waking up at 3:15 a.m. on a Thursday, I felt it all: sadness, dread, and just a hint of embarrassment.
I’m moving back to Seattle.
Not because I couldn’t handle New York, but because I refused to let the city back me into a corner.
My temporary living situation was chaos. Instead of spending $1,500 a month on rent, I was spending $1,500 a week on hotels. And when you don’t have a stable home base, everything else, job applications, networking, even eating, feels impossible to manage. My nervous system was fried. I didn’t want to reach a point of desperation where I’d take the first job offer or apartment just to survive.
By day six, I kept repeating to myself: “I just want to go home.” Eventually, I listened. I stuck it out for another week, then called my old landlord in Seattle and made plans to move back near my old neighborhood.
And here’s the twist, I don’t see this as failure. I already did the hardest part: walking away from a job that wasn’t investing in my growth. What I’ve gained now is space, clarity, and the ability to move forward on my own terms.
Because in just 14 days in New York, I still managed to:
Navigate the subway system like a local
Scout neighborhoods I’d actually want to live in
Network face-to-face with industry professionals
Add fresh concept work to my portfolio
Interview for jobs aligned with my skills
Restructure Sequin Soirée into a white-label digital event marketing studio supporting PR firms and event teams
So yes, the timeline has changed, but the vision hasn’t.
New York showed me exactly what it’s going to take to thrive there. For now, I’m regrouping in Seattle. Resetting my plan. Beefing up my skills with certifications in HubSpot, Figma, and Klaviyo. And stacking my paper so that when I return, it’ll be with my own apartment, not a shared space with three roommates and one bathroom.
Because the truth is: if you don’t have stability, New York can feel like a trap. But I chose clarity over chaos.
I could feel embarrassed that I only lasted two weeks in my dream city, but that’s not my style. The city gave me what I needed: clarity, perspective, and insight. And the city isn’t going anywhere. When I come back, I’ll be stronger, better positioned, and fully prepared.
This wasn’t the original plan. I thought my next time in Seattle would be to pack up for good. But here we are. And honestly? I’m okay with that.
So, what’s the plan now? Stay tuned because the pivot is only just beginning.
