Falling in Love with an Open Mind, and the Feelings that Transpire

Falling love at twenty-two is easy.

Prior to moving to New York City, one of my professors warned me not to fall in love. Unfortunately, his warning has come to fruition. With an open mind about love, I fell in love with the City of New York.

This city has a heartbeat. This city steadily breathes life into neighborhoods, apartment buildings, streets, boroughs, native New Yorkers, new comers, stock brokers, deli owners, students, artists, and kiddos ready to make their marks on the world. 

This city comes alive when you keep your head up and let your walls down. People smile here. People will look you in the eyes and say "have a lovely day." Like falling in love with a person, you must put trust in this city. I live with the people of New York City. We live together in solidarity in the cultural crossroads of the world. 

The people of New York breathe life back into this city. 

My microsystem consists of beautiful people who I feel challenged and inspired by. 

My exosystem consists of 8.5 million neighbors.

Many of my family members and friends from home have asked how I am doing. Friends of my family have asked my parents, "Is she doing okay? She seems to be having a hard time after the election." 

I genuinely appreciate your concerns, and thank you for thinking of me. I am completely fine. I am emotionally stable. I am beyond happy with my place in the city that I fell in love with. 

I am also not worried for myself. I am not depressed about my future after the election. As a white, upper-middle-class woman with a college degree and a status as a student at an Ivy League institution, please know that in no way do I feel in danger after the election. I argue that, knowing the demographics of my friends on Facebook, neither should most of you. 

I am not in fear. I am not depressed. I am not threatened. How lucky I am, and many of you, to have these privileges?

Many of the beautiful people in my microsystem and wonderful 8.5 million neighbors, who constantly breathe life into our wonderful city, do not have the privileges of safety and happiness. 

I saw this note on a light post.

For this reason I aim to educate my family members and friends, who may not have thought about the beautiful people I live with or my wonderful 8.5 million neighbors, on the current realities facing many people who also call this city, and our incredible country, home. 

I do not apologize for posts that may be "negative" or "depressing." They are sobering. In order to protect this amazing living and breathing city, consisting of beautiful and wonderful people, we must understand and confront these realities. 

I love my family and friends from home. 

I love New York. 

This love drives me to stand in solidarity with the beautiful people in my microsystem and my wonderful 8.5 million neighbors in my exosystem. 

MOST INTERESTING POST YET ABOUT NYC!

MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS: IF YOU HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART FOR ME, PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE ATTACHED ARTICLE.

Your vote matters, especially if you live in a swing state, to the students of my friend whose parents will be deported (instead of a plan of expedited citizenship... did you know that people can be on that list for OVER 14 YEARS?!) if his plans are carried out. Your vote matters to another student, WHO WILL BE DEPORTED. Your vote matters to the college first year who cannot receive any financial aid and go to college because she was born in Guatemala (yet her sister will because she was born in the United States). Your vote matters to your children, who will grow up knowing that their president talked about grabbing women by the pussy. How are you going to explain that to your daughters? How are you going to tell your sons that this behavior is UNACCEPTABLE?

Further, THE UNITED STATES IS NOT A BUSINESS. Also, if Trump wins his plans will actually increase the debt. Just to let you know.

So please. If you have any respect for me as a family member or friend, read this entire post and do you NON PARTISAN RESEARCH. Most importantly, please THINK ABOUT YOUR VOTE.

Praying for our beautiful but divided America,

Lauren