No Regrets

My friend asked me if I regret going back home for the summer instead of staying in New York. While I don't believe in regrets, I did wonder what would have happened if I stayed in the east coast.

I would have...
-interned full-time at the United Nations in their media department, met some extraordinary people doing amazing work, and ate cereal everyday because the internship is unpaid.
-stayed in the nasty apartment, listened to Blondie's horrific "singing," probably shanked her, and gone to jail.
-hung out with my friends at the roof-top bars and sit outside the cafes to enjoy people watching.
-gone to the parades and roam the weekly street fairs for some tasty treats.
-given the evil eye to everyone who stepped within one foot of me since I get easily irritated in hot, sticky, I-need-to-shower-three-times-a-day humid weather.

And who knows, I could have met some hot, smart, funny guy...but realistically, I would have met a bunch of creeps. But if I had stayed in New York, I would have missed out on meeting new people in OC, reconnecting with old friends, and bonding with my family and close friends.

I would have missed out on...
-the trip to Vegas where I won $140 at blackjack (I never win!).
-my cousin's graduation at Berkeley where all the cousins went clubbing and a drunk cousin performed a light show with a flashlight that he grabbed from the guy who was sweeping the floor.
-my cousin's birthday party where we rented a paddle boat and row boat and slowly made our way to the middle of the serene lake.
-the trip to San Diego where the warm ocean water and blue skies were perfect and later where my friend and I danced intensely to a bad cover band in what was equivalent to a steam room in a bar while a small man was trying to talk to my friend in a high-pitched voice and a giant man was patting her head.
-hanging out with my teenage cousins and really getting to know them in a way that I never had before, listening to their struggles, fears, and hopes, watching them figure out who they are.
-meeting someone who made me laugh with his text messages and corny jokes.
-going to work everyday and being surrounded by caring, fun coworkers (although I won't miss the dead birds) and then going back to my lovely sister's place to crash on her floor.
-hanging out with some really awesome friends who will always be there for me even if I don't see them often.

There are so many things that I would have missed if I had stayed in New York for the summer, and I'm glad I didn't.

I won't leave out the fact that the beginning of my summer was one of the saddest times in my life, but I am grateful for having gone through it and even more grateful for the supportive, loving family and friends who listened to me and gave me a shoulder to cry on. Everyone was right when they told me that time will heal all wounds; I just had to do it on my own time...hopefully the scar won't be too big. However, I am optimistic of what the future holds for me. I choose to look forward rather than back, to believe in the goodness of people and give them the benefit of the doubt before they can wrong me, to anticipate any opportunities that life may throw my way and make the best of it. Once again, I'm leaving behind my beloved family and friends, but it's only for a short time. I can't wait to breathe in the excitement of New York and see how the last four months will unfold. And when I'm done with my time there, I can't wait to come back to the place I call home.