We live in micro-bubble lives. Work, home, our market, schools, where we shop and where we eat, is all a microcosm of this big world. It can be a bit stifling. Sometimes you need to break out and experience the rest of the world. You probably don’t realize it, but you really do. Living in our bubbles is like being in a thick forest – you can’t see the forest for the trees. Exposing yourself to the other 99% of the world will make you appreciate your life (or give you the courage to change it), make you more tolerant, and broaden your ability to love and interact with your fellow humans. It’s good for the soul, and I know of no better place than New York City to do that.

Where Souls Meet

After I got a divorce in 2010, man did I need something for my soul, so I ran to my niece who lived in Brooklyn to get away from Dallas and to heal a little. I was fortunate enough to be working for myself which allowed me to make trips to NY for business and to see my family. During these years of visiting and under the direction of a fabulously liberal New Yorker, I learned the ropes of living – and understanding – the greatest city in the world. My soul fell in love with NYC.

The Marriage Agreement

I remember before I moved to NY, I just couldn’t wrap my mind around how people could live in such small spaces. It didn’t take long, however, for me to fall in love with the density, diversity and energy of this place, learning that people are willing to exchange their overblown mega mansions and large living spaces to have “all this” at their disposal. That was me. I was ready to bond with the world, have it under my nose and available. Space? Highly overrated. I needed so much more than a big house with a pool. And that’s the marriage agreement with NYC; space for the best of the best. So in 2016, I made the leap and moved to NY, to a  little neighborhood on the other side of the East River called Brooklyn Heights.

The Art of Living 

It was there, on a narrow tree-lined street of historical brownstones, in a 300SF apartment, I learned the art of living small and exploring big. I learned you don’t need a lot of space to entertain. I learned that a really good cook doesn’t need all that kitchen stuff. I learned that 300SF is really all a human needs. I learned to make conversation with strangers (neighbors) on the street, in a bar, at the laundry. I learned the art of relationships, making friends, logistics and organization – which oddly, gave me a sense of self and better control – all the while feeling free to be myself more than ever. My soul was fully activated!

More than a  City

During my short time of living the life of a New Yorker (just over 2 years), I amassed thousands of photographs of my adventures and sightings. It became my daily goal to capture a small snap of the essence of the city that has enchanted the world  and captured my heart. I invite you to take a peek into my experience of living in New York City through my pictures. My recent gallery is Experience NY but there are several more galleries on NY, so enjoy digging around on the site.

The World’s Community

NYC is not all buildings and people, as you can see, they only provide the backdrop to a beautiful community that includes gardens and parks, amazing food, great wine, good people, beaches and boardwalks, museums and so much more. It’s the best of the best, all sharing, thriving, and living their lives with each other.

Let it be known, I did leave a pretty big piece of my heart there .

Be sure to visit my gallery at  Experience NY and more on LensQueen.com.

I’ve fallen out of love with a lot of things but never New York.

~ Sandy Hibbard

There are views, places, smells, nuances, flowers, sunsets, certain buildings and people that I never tire of here in New York City. The textures, elements, colors and variety of architecture and art, people, language and terrain, is an excitement to my senses – it all makes me remember that I am alive and part of something much larger than myself.

XOXOXO
 
Photography©Sandy Hibbard – see the “Experience New York City” Gallery at Lensqueen.com. Images available for purchase.

Painted orange whisp’ers

Glassy steel diversity

Sea-foam kissed fireflies

 
 
 
 
© Sandy Hibbard June 16, 2017

I am standing out on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade looking across the East River toward the Manhattan skyline, anxiously awaiting the fireworks display for this Fourth of July celebration.  I am one in a crowd of hundreds, ultimately thousands, who have gathered to watch the fireworks along the East River.  Moms, dads, kids, old, young, brown, black, white, straight, gay, athletic, disabled, fat, skinny, beautiful.  My English language is only one of many I can hear.  All kinds of minds, all kinds of beliefs – Zen, Christianity, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhists, Atheists, Agnostics, educated, street smart, crazy, sweet, stupid, teachers, professors, city workers, janitors, executives, stay at home moms, entrepreneurs, preachers, rabbis,  etc, etc.  Sun dresses, short shorts, pants, sari’s, dresses, workout clothes, business attire…..what have I missed?  I stood humbled that I was part of this gathering.  Part of this world.  Part of the human race right here in New York City.
Everyone was here to celebrate, to be excited by a fireworks show.  To show their kids what we do on the 4th of July, to experience the American dream of independence, to just hang out, to get out of their hot apartments, to not be alone, to take a date, meet someone, or relive the childhood experience.  Again, I was overwhelmed that here I was, this solo girl – one of many – part of this amazing crowd.  Then this thought came to me.  If we can all be here together peacefully, why can’t we accept each other’s differences and just love each other?  Why can’t we toss out our prejudices, our preconceived ideas and passed-on judgments of other people and just accept that we are all one and the same – just different?  It was a powerful thought to me.  Then I realized that in a place like NYC, when you are confronted with the diversity of humans, you must certainly grow in tolerance of the differences and to understand and accept them more (or maybe I am being naive here?).  Whatever.  I am thankful to see this from this perceptive and share with you my realization that if we open up the horizons of our mind and hearts to embrace more than just people like ourselves, we not only do ourselves a great service, but we help to bring unity to the world.  Just saying…
Peace and Love
Sandy