High school reunion weekend

Fellow New Yorkers,

For those of you who aren't already aware of the private school scene in New York, or whom aren't private school alumni, let me edge you in on a little secret-the schools that seem to do best and whom have the most power simultaneously often have the most money.  What a shocker, eh? (Please excuse my NY sarcasm ;) In light of their obsession with money, they have an obsession with alumni support, and thus plan 5 year reunions, which is unheard of to most people.  However, one must congratulate these schools whom are required to raise their own money as opposed to public schools that rely on the government for money and the taxes the community pays (however, hopefully, public school education will be reformed in the near future ;). I recently had my high school reunion this past weekend and what a whirlwind into the past that was. Not only did I see old classmates, but I got to chat with teachers, school heads, board members, etc, and the thing that jarred me the most about this experience is how separate the big world is from your high school experience. People often seem to love high school or hate it, but the important part is that we all move on from that place in time, and whether you loved it or hated it, you still have to adjust to a new environment; you have to be able to survive and excel in different environments.  I thought this would be easy for me, and I headed off to college without a thought, but once I got there it proved to be more difficult than I had imaged. The lesson is, wherever you are in life-middle school, high school, college, and every step of the way after that, whether you hate it or love it, it doesn't last forever, but getting through it is what matters and being able to move on successfully proves ultimate success in the end.  When you're thinking in the moment, it often feels like only a select few things matter (grades, friends, boys, etc), and even though you have to take the punches and learn from your mistakes, in the end, it's really the journey you take that matters.  The only way you can learn certain things is with experience.  That's the gift of human nature that animals don't have to the same degree, to understand the greater idea of the "experience." No wonder why the term experience has become an embedded part of any successful democracy.  Experience often does prove more than anything else, it's real life work and it's, well, real. It's not based in rhetoric or a fancy degree, it's truth, and like the old adage, the truth will set you free. So take your life for the experience, do the best you can, but move on from what doesn't work, do what does work, stay away from those people who seem "off" and listen to your instincts, because they know what's best for you.

In order to know it all, you've got to know me!

-The Know it all New Yorker-

Sunglasses take care of business

To all the New York Know It All's,


Some people just get it. New Yorkers on the "in" know that the best part about having a pair of sunglasses is not just so you can keep the sun out, but also so you can keep the people out whenever you're just not up to chit chatting with an acquaintance while you're on your way to Starbucks and you have a deadline to meet by the end of the day. I don't even bother going out anymore before 7 PM without my sunglasses. After all they serve multiple purposes; if I'm wearing sweats, a pair of sunglasses can spice up my look a little bit. It also detracts from whatever I'm wearing, so that people will notice my glasses more than my 3 1/2 year old pink sweat suit that I love more than anything, but isn't always appropriate for the "outdoors." Although Manhattan is a big place, it's surprising how often you run into people you know-people who often run in the same circle, live in the same neighborhood, work in the same profession, etc, seem to run into each other every once in a while. Glasses can come in handy for those moments when you're stressed out, not in a very good mood, or just need time to be alone. In a city where you're always around people-on the street, at work, even at home, and with the internet making privacy seem more and more difficult to keep with each new hot internet site sensation, isn't a pair of black sunglasses for ever New Yorker almost a necessity? While it might seem obnoxious or mean to ignore someone through the use of an inanimate object, it is also necessary for moments when you just can't talk with anyone, or you just need a break from the constant outside world-which is now "constant" in that you have access to everyone and anything online. So the next time you go for a walk in the park by yourself on a warm spring Saturday, take your pink suit suit, your music, and of course, your trusty sun glasses, and enjoy your time to relax, unwanted interruption free ;)


xoxo,


-The Know It All New Yorker-

Sunday's, Lazy Sunday's

To all the angry New Yorkers who must return to work tomorrow,


I feel your pain. Not only do you have to go back to work, but really, work is annoying because it will preclude your ability to pursue any of the other activities that you can exercise within the metro area on any given weekend. Just today, I ran in central park, met some girlfriends for brunch, enjoyed the sauna at an athletic club, went dog bag shopping, visited every major label on 5th avenue and had coffee with an old friend. Only in NY, right? However, the best thing I love about living in the city is that everyone walks everywhere, giving me ample time to stop cute boys on the street to set my girlfriends up with ;) This act makes me feel like I have control in an un-controlable world; it also gives me an adrenaline rush that is like no other, never knowing how each man will react to my matchmaking efforts. After a long day, this can be a fun, spontaneous way of bringing back the feeling of "control" when you've had a bad day at work, a fight with a friend, etc. NY is a busy city, and it can surely occupy your mind most of the time, but every now and then you need an unplanned adventure, when you do something for someone else and it brings back a sense of reason to your day. Your pass up for that promotion was someone else's next friday night date, and for that, karma should repay you back at some point, right? NY is great because whenever I'm feeling down, I just walk out my front door and enter the city streets and my mind starts to focus on the people and places around me, and thus I remember that like the car coming up Park Avenue that will speed past me at any second, my current dilemma, will too, eventually pass. NY has that ability to keep moving in ways that are refreshing to people like me and too fast paced for others. I can hide my emotions in the hustle and bustle of the city sidewalks and thus eventually, the city almost helps my fears and anxieties sleep, as eventually Park Avenue does at a certain time on a week night. Silence, calmness, a serenity that is simultanously relaxing and creepy. When you grow up with honking horns out side of your window 24/7, the silence can actually be a distraction in itself. The character of the city has all my secrets, then, since I use NY as my cathartic release, relinquishing all thoughts when I stroll down lex, in turn, taking in the array of apples and tomatoes being sold at any deli in the hood. And so, with the people, the spontanous ability to react to and engage with others in NY and ultimately, the resounding, fast-paced, circular spin of this town enables me to come back home, refreshed, re-worked and ready to tackle another Monday. -The Know It All New Yorker-

The search

Dear City dwellers,

I went for a walk this afternoon in central park, and listening to the conversations of those around me while simultaneously envying the determination of the central park runners, I realized that in my own world at least, it seems as though people are always searching or working toward the next goal. In fact, it seems weird to me that not everyone is like that, that some people are just happy to see the sun rise and set each day. Lately I've gone too far in that I've started to feel an uneasiness thinking of those who don't have long term goals, those that live each moment and don't try for anything more. Why has this happened? Has my NY ego finally got the best of me? I thought for the longest time that I was down to earth, level headed and sure that I would bring that into other peoples lives. Now, the world seems much more complicated. It seems as though while trying to maintain a sense of pride while making new friends in new places, it's hard to remain "real" when you feel the urge, the addiction almost, to impress. One wants to feel legitimate around others by projecting at least a certain sense of class themselves. However, the tricky part is when this ego tilting behavior slides into judgment when you're around others who don't feel the need to impress, who live day to day and don't worry about tomorrow. It's easy then to become jealous of that "live for the moment" attitude altogether, when you realize how liberalizing and free it must feel to stop caring. But, you can't get yourself to cross that thresh hold. You feel like you can never go back to that time in your life when you lived in the moment. It's almost as if you've been chemically altered and now you cannot change back to your original DNA. A plastic surgery makeover, and you can't undue the sculptor's damage. Although there are some things I can do. We do have some control if we want it. I can work on continuing to form relationship that are close to my heart, that bring pure joy to my life, and that are thus healthy and real. I can keep doing the things that bring joy to my life. I can remember to say hello and to smile at others randomly on the street, to skip once in a while and not care whether or not anybody is watching and to jam out to my music in my pajamas. So when I do feel the urge to sip the snob appeal, I can make up for it by offering a cookie to someone in need or a shoulder to cry on for a friend or perfect stranger who needs a helping hand. -The Know It All New Yorker-

Weekend evening blues

Good evening!


While most of you are probably out galavanting around the city since it is Friday evening, I'm home alone watching the History channel and enjoying some white wine. As I sit in my den, admiring my pseudo-intellectual attempt at a relaxing evening in, the historic battle scene being re-enacted on the History Channel tunes me in to some recent tendencies that I have been exhibiting lately on a regular basis; I've been trying, actively, to learn every day, literary with the goal of becoming as close to a "know it all" as I possibly can be. The other day, when chatting with a few people at a volunteer meeting, I described myself as Cheer from the movie "Clueless," when she and her friend/subject start to workout together and choose a reading list to remain physically and intellectually stimulated. That's like so totally what I do. I have a reading list that I've been following and adding to, I've tried to remain somewhat healthy, and I've tried to workout on a regular basis. Wow, am I becoming so pathetic that I have to goal orient myself to achieve certain goals that should ideally just come naturally? My conclusion is thus that I have simply become lazier and so I must physically schedule in reading and workout times and goals in order to achieve goals. Why? Why have I become so complacent that I don't naturally feel the need to learn and grow? I know everyone has these challenges, but this can only mean one thing-as people we are really not automatically born with the drive and persistence to learn and push our bodies, we must discipline and train ourselves. In the same way that we can train horses and dogs, we must also be trained, except that it is more challenging because we can only rely on ourselves and/or other people to train us. No other type of organism that currently exists can exert power over us so that we may be trained. This is wonderful and it speaks to the truly free nature human beings are given at birth, but also to the fact that with greater freedom, we also tend to engage less responsibility. We don't workout, we eat more, we don't read when we don't feel like it. Understanding why we do this is key to taking action against the lackadasical attitude. And so I resume my "learning night," turning back to my programming, sipping my wine, and of course, signing off for the evening. Tune in next time, because in order to know it all, you've gotta' know me! xox -The Know It All New Yorker-

Maturing ideology

Good afternoon all,


My post this week has to do with education and how we east coasters occasionally view the "ideal" form of education based on what is prescribed as "the best" in the elitest New York/New Englang area. Growing up in Manhattan, it was instilled in me through the Manhattan private school environment that going to an ivy league school was the end all be all-the ultimate goal, the goal that seemed to impress private school parents and fellow classmates the most. However, when I attended USC in Southern California, I learned that attending an ivy league really does not matter that much at all. Going to college, any college, is what matters the most and doing it in the most cost-effective way is easiest on both parents and children. I had read of students all across the nation who were pursuing their own businesses, paying for college, and doing very well for themselves as undergraduates and as alumni. I learned that most people have to pay for college themselves-working full time and taking out student loans that take years to pay off, making it necessary for these college graduates to maintain full time employent in order to pay off loans and other expenses. Now that I'm am finishing my real estate salesperson's license here in New York and looking to attend graduate school within the next year, I am not looking for the top ranked school only, I am looking for a school with a combination of a strong program, good alumni connections and tuition benefit programs where I can ideally work full time for the University and have my tuition compensated 100%. This way, I can work full time, have graduate school paid for and when I'm not in class/working, I can network, start my own business and have that going before I even graduate! Cost efficiency and learning are now my priorities, not just getting into the "top" school. I feel fortunate that I did attend college across the country and within a different atmosphere because a lot of my friends from the east coast who attended college on the east coast still believe that they need to go to a top law school, or they're doomed. Are you serious? The reality is if you trust yourself and commit to your profession, if you're good at what you do, passionate about it, driven to succeed, you can. If you don't give up when things aren't going your way, you can succeed. People do it all the time. They go to community colleges, state schools, non-accredited 4 year schools such as message therapy school, etc, but they do attend school to master a particular profession. So put down the Ivy League only cheering flags, turn in a new direction and look at life from a mature, adult angle, as anyone should ideally as a 23 year old trying to make it in this crazy world. Until next time folks, tune in for another rant and rave from yours truly -The Know It All New Yorker-

Millionaire Matchmaker obsession

Hello fellow New Yorkers,


After having a wonderful weekend outside of the City, I returned to catch the latest episode of my recent Bravo networking obsession: the Millionaire Matchmaker. I like the show for two reasons: a) Patti (the millionaire matchmaker) is a genius (at what she does, at least ;) with good character who understands superficial people and what they really NEED in their lives, as opposed to what they think they want. This show is intriguing, mostly because of Patti's psychoanalysis of the video tapes sent to her office and also because of her in person meetings with the millionaire's and what she looks for in the women she matches them with. However, because of the nature of Patti's discussions with the viewers regarding relationships, it makes me think about my own life. Do I really want to be wealthy? I used to think so, but now I'm more focused on happiness, i.e. spending time with the people I love the most and working toward my own goals of owning my own successful business, being published and throwing philanthropic/networking events that will help people in need and bring people together within a community. Unlike some of the women on the show, I'm not looking for a millionaire, I'm looking for someone who makes me happy who has longer term goals for himself. I feel lucky to have come to this place, but I know the greatest challenges lay ahead; how will I balance my career, graduate school, getting published, networking and my significant other? I don't know, but like anything else in my life, I know I will plough ahead, pushing, working toward my end goals and hoping for the best along the way. With today's insight, I'm out folks, stay tuned next time for more ranting and raving from you know who -The Know it all New Yorker-