Moving to Los Angeles

Here are my experiences, what I've learned and what I'm going to do differently.

Jan 28, 2025

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On this day, one year ago, I moved to Los Angeles.
Over the years, LA was a place I frequented a few times a year. I’d always have a smile on my face when I landed at LAX. A place I never gave serious thought to living in. But the pandemic we all experienced together changed that perspective.

In November of Season 1 of the pandemic, LA was one of the places I escaped to. I dodged the cold whether and shift of season in New York. In the midst of perpetual uncertainty, LA seemed like a haven. From my conversations with friends and chosen family I leardned and saw that doing the pandemic in Manhattan was a different than doing the pandemic in Los Angeles. Considering that and the previous time I spent in LA, I wanted to see if it was a place I could see myself spending more time in. So, I lived here for a month and got further acclimated. Then seasons 2 and 3 of the pandemic came and went, navigating our ever-changing new normal where new areas of my work and life started to take off and accelerate. I saw an opportunity that I wanted to take advantage of. I thought it behooved me to at least try the bi-coastal thing with NYC as home-base and LA a place I’d frequent for extended periods of time, monthly.

I had a bunch of friends that moved here, pre-pandemic for a number of different reasons. But during the pandemic, I feel like the country saw a mass exodus of people leaving the big cities for more suburban or rural areas chasing a better quality of life. In what I could see from my friends moves from NY to LA, it appeared everyone leveled up or took whatever their thing was to the next level and also had a better quality of life. I was inspired.

So, I commited to going back and forth between NYC and LA. In doing this I created a schedule and started to see some growth, development and progress in these efforts. Things started popping off and it was great. Then I had an Amazing, life-changing experience — My son was born and after getting settled in with his arrival, I thought I’d be able to maintain the consistency of the schedule. But quickly learned and realized that wasn’t going to be practical. Being gone once a month for 7-10 days at a time, wasn’t something that would be realistic. So my schedule shifted to being in LA around what were deemed high-priority meetings or opportunities — things that were making money! Over time, I saw the consistent cadence of being in LA drastically change, but my energy didn’t. I remained optimistic that I could figure out a schedule where I could be back here regularly.

New York is one of the most amazing cities in the world, if not the most. New York is so amazing, I didn’t think I’d ever leave, until 2014. I started having more work and life experiences and opportunities outside of NYC. I’d have an amazing time on my trips, wherever I was, and when I’d come back to New York, it felt like I dreaded it. My energy would change as soon as I got off the plane and back into the throes of life in NYC. I had the best of experiences, growth and culture living in New York. But something about having to put the grit back on my face didn’t sit well with me. Its like living in New York makes you a massochist — we normalize the very abnormal pains, traumas and circumstances living there. I don’t mind hustling, working hard and getting it. But there’s this unexplainable mode you have to go back into upon arrival back to NYC. After experiencing this a few times, it hit me that NYC wasn’t it and living there long term wasn’t completely practical based on some of the thing I’d want in life. In my mind, I had a plan of living elsewhere and in New York(during peak Summer Season) as well. I was playing myself — that plan wasn’t really practical, ha.

In 2023, a conversation with my partner about what it would look like to live outside of New York, came up. We discussed places and cities we’d like — Austin and LA were the frontrunners. We both loved ATX and I loved the upsides I believed come with living in LA. She hadn’t spent much time in LA, so there wasn’t much to go off of. We had a trip to Austin to visit and see some friends to see about giving it a go. But her frame of reference was different, since she had actually lived in Austin before. So for her, it would be returning to a familiar place. During and after that visit, she realized Austin wasn’t it. So we landed and agreed on LA.
We didn’t have an actual plan other than just saying we were going to do it. Within a few weeks, we got blessed to have our living situation sorted before we even put a timeline to move together. Then it was off to the races to relish as much of New York as we could, spend the Holidays and finish out a Calendar year in NYC before we move to LA.

On the official move day, leaving New York happened fast. The place I was born and originally from. The place I cut my personal and professional teeth. The place I lived and grew as a man with many triumphs and short-comings, I was leaving. New York raised me. It was my comfort zone and really all I knew as an adult.

The day we left, everything went down to the wire from final packing and cleaning up, the car shipping company coming a tad late, to getting things out of our apartment to getting to the airport on time — We thought we would actually miss our flight. But all things worked out and we made it. This was a weird feeling — Rushing to get everything done and I didn’t even process what was happening, so I didn’t actually feel anything. What’s interesting is, I thought I’d be emotional leaving New York, but I honestly didn’t even bat an eye. On the plane, I was optimistic and ready and then I realized that I was overdue in leaving New York. I’d outgrew it in certain ways, places and spaces and saw that maybe there was also a glass ceiling or sorts in New York where I was only going to get so far. So I was excited for what was in store in this new chapter of life, living in LA — great weather, a seemingly better quality of life, access to the elements, opportunity for professional growth and so much more.

In this last 365-days, I have enjoyed living here. I don’t have anything negative to say about LA. My lived experience differs from whats often told on the internet about living in LA. I’ve had the opportunity to do some new things, re-connect with people, meet new folks, plant/garden, and play golf all year round. The weather is great where mostly every day is sunny and I have easy access(12-15min or less) to the elements and environment(beach, sport or hike). What more could you ask for?

Of course It’s had its ups, downs, and in-betweens with unforeseen professional challenges which impacted me personally. But over the last few months I’ve worked to get a grip on them in understanding the challenges as they are and letting them be what they are — Being Mindful ;-). Over the last few weeks, I’ve went deeper and reflected on my first year here — what I’ve been able to accomplish, what I haven’t what I want more of, where I’ve been frustrated, what I can be doing better at and so much more. What’s come up is that its time begin again in doing what I’ve done and found success in.

Outside looking in, my wellness work has seemed to go to the forefront of my company’s work, with the other ways I’ve been able to be a valuable asset, serve, engage with and provide resources and opportunities for client whether company or person may have gotten lost. You’d think I JUST worked in the Wellness space and am “the mindfulness and meditation guy”. Those are parts of my work and impact, but it’s not all of it and I don’t like being put in a box.

In February, my company will be 10 years old. I’ve been able to consult and deliver solutions for both businesses and creatives. I’ve been able to use my gifts and empower artists and brands to reach their potential tailoring resources with fresh perspectives and fostering growth and wellness. I’ve had and found success in content as a service and solution. I don’t mean instagram, youtube, or other social media. I mean content as a way to engage — via programming, products, experiences, audio, video and much more. Meeting people where they are and taking them on a journey beyond.

Although LA’s not a new experience to me, I am new in living here. For the last year, I’ve quietly assimilated and shaped myself around LA. But it’s time for LA to shape its way around me, my gifts and my capabilities. If you’ve wondered, I am safe, I am well, and my family is in good health and spirits, navigating life’s challenges and the local disaster that the city has recently faced to the best of our ability.

But this is a new era. A new time. A new season. I am moving with intention as if it were impossible to fail. I am exactly where I am supposed to be and am patient, positive and optimistic because all things are working for my good.

Have an Amazing day, have an Amazing week and Be well, stay mindful.

PROVIDE TO SUPPORT TO THE LA COMMUNITY AND THOSE IMPACTED BY THE WILDFIRES

If you're in LA or know someone in LA who has been impacted by the fires and needs some help, there are a myriad of resources I am happy to share whether you are directly affected or you want to support:

My friends from WalkGood LA are helping those impacted ensuring donations go straight into the hands of those who need them most. Just fill out this form.
Additionally, here is a list of resources depending on the need
Directory of GoFundMe links for displaced Black Families
Brands Providing Products to people and families
Comprehensive list of ways/resources to help
The Kindness Hub LA Mutual Aid