Something I’ve learned in my young life is that things change. Period. You can’t predict them happening and some will have a bigger effect than others, but it’s how you respond to these changes that makes you who you are, and ultimately decides the path your life takes.
Therefore, I am going to tell you, 23,740 of my newest friends, something that only a few of my closest friends and family know. I am moving to London from New York City! I have never been to London and barely know anything about it.
How’s that for a life change?
In the past month, my girlfriend and I broke up, and my company started looking for someone similar to me in our UK office. I raised my hand, and they bought my pitch. It’s funny how the timing of things works out sometimes.
The breakup devastated me, things weren’t always great but it still came as a shock, and having the most meaningful relationship I’ve had end, was hard to swallow. We both got too comfortable and settled in, rarely taking time to appreciate each other.
I wish someone kept reminding me these few things along the way: do the small things and be selfless when tending to your partner – it’s chivalrous and essential. Travel, have adventures, and keep things interesting, it goes much further than you’d expect. Lastly, don’t just live your life with an end-goal in mind, enjoy the steps along the way.
But, we march on.
I am a man of many interests, and a few passions. I work in Corporate Finance, and I love my job. My ultimate goal is to start and run a company, and my job allows me to get the inside scoop on what makes a business successful. Something that will serve me well later in life.
While I enjoy what I do, it doesn’t fully define who I am. I coach a 12U travel baseball team in Manhattan (yes, even the Concrete Jungle has some green patches). I played baseball all the way through college, but coaching has taken my love for the game to a new level. I plead with you to find something you’re passionate about in life and act on it.
Moving to London is the biggest risk I’ve taken, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve only been to Europe once (to Ireland) and don’t know what I am getting myself into, but I’m ready for the adventure.
Lastly, the biggest realization I’ve had in my 26+ years is: To be happy, you must be completely honest with yourself first. As an optimist, it’s one of the hardest things for me to do, always seeing things as better than they actually are. But I’m working at it, and am ultimately in a better place. Before I leave for work each day, I think about what’s truly important to me, keeping those thoughts in mind throughout the day. Take care of yourself first, and everything else will fall into place.
As John Lennon reminds us, “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
I am writing this on Father’s Day, which reminds me of two principles my dad has instilled in me.
“If you have the choice to either be right or kind, choose kind.”
“Work when no one is watching, but work as if everyone is watching.”
Thanks, Dad.
If any of this post resonated with you tell me why! Also, I barely know anything about London, so suggestions of neighborhoods, restaurants, or hidden gems are encouraged. Talk soon, Frank
Frank P.
[email protected]
New York, NY (soon to be London, UK)