September 28, 2025 • 32 mins
Taking a leap of faith can transform your entire life – even when you don't have everything figured out beforehand. When I found myself increasingly unhappy in Atlanta despite being closer to family, I kept daydreaming about New York City during visits to friends there. The six-lane highways triggered my driving anxiety, making friends as a nanny proved nearly impossible, and something essential was missing from my life.
The turning point came unexpectedly. My employer, who had never heard me mention wanting to move, texted out of nowhere: "I could really see you living in New York City." Those words felt like divine confirmation of the thoughts I'd been quietly harboring. Despite having no job lined up and limited savings, I joined Facebook groups to find roommates, packed everything into a rented pickup truck (which I promptly scraped in the airport parking garage), and made the nerve-wracking drive from Atlanta to NYC with my dog Luna.
Those first weeks tested my resolve. I worked at a daycare while searching for nanny positions, questioning my decision until a family I babysat for connected me with my current employers. Two years later, as I prepare to move apartments within the city, I realize that betting on myself was the catalyst for everything good in my life now – my podcast, my content creation journey, and a sense of belonging I never found elsewhere.
If you're waiting for permission to take that chance you've been contemplating, consider this your sign. You don't need to have every detail meticulously planned. The most beautiful parts of life often emerge from those moments when we trust ourselves enough to leap, knowing we'll figure out the landing on the way down. What would your life look like if you took that chance today?
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Daijné (00:00):
Is this thing on?
Hello, hello.
Uh-oh.
Another yuffer with a mic.
Hello everyone and welcome backto the napkin in between
podcast.
I am your host, Asian A Jones.
I hope everyone's been having agood week except for that
(00:22):
orange drink lady.
Of course.
Y'all, I'm feeling reallysentimental today because this
is our last episode in thisapartment.
I'm actually like it's sobittersweet because like I've
done so many firsts in thisapartment.
Oh, pause.
That sounds really crazy.
(00:42):
Firsts in my content creationjourney.
But also, like the managementof this apartment is fucking
ass.
So I am very excited to moveand hopefully the management in
my next apartment will bebetter.
But I'm just like, oh, I'm justfeeling very sentimental.
Like, we're not gonna have thebrick wall anymore.
And oh I don't know, guys.
(01:03):
I'm just feeling very, verysentimental, and I'm reminiscing
on my move to New York City.
I moved to New York City twoyears ago, October 1st will be
two years.
I've been in this apartment forthe last two years since I've
moved to New York City, and solike packing everything up and
moving to another apartment, itjust has me like reminiscing on
moving to New York City and howI got here.
(01:24):
And I don't think that I'veever shared this story.
So I'm gonna share it with youguys today because I'm just
feeling very sentimental and I'mreminiscing, and it's just like
oh, it's so bittersweet.
I think I've mentioned itbefore, but I moved to New York
City from Atlanta.
I'm originally fromPennsylvania, but I moved to
Atlanta in 2021.
(01:46):
Yeah, 2021, because my momlives down there, she's been
down there for 13 years orsomething crazy.
And so I was like, I want to becloser to my mom and you know
be around family.
My nephews are also down there.
My sisters were down there.
I don't speak to them anymore,but at the time that was part of
the reason that I moved theretoo, because I wanted to be
closer to my sisters and just becloser to family in general.
(02:07):
I was like the only person inmy family that was still in
Pennsylvania.
Everyone else was like hadmoved south.
I have like family in NorthCarolina, my mom was in Atlanta,
so I was like, let me just movecloser and be close to family.
And so I moved to Atlanta fromPittsburgh, I was living in
Pittsburgh, moved to Atlanta,and I feel like I learned fairly
quickly that Atlanta was reallynot for me.
(02:28):
Like, there were some goodparts about it.
Of course, I was closer to mymom and my sisters and my nieces
and nephews, and you know,closer to family.
But being in this city was justlike it's just not my city.
I would say that I enjoyvisiting Atlanta because there
is a lot of like my family'sthere, the food is great, but
(02:48):
like to live there, whole newball game.
Why did I say ball game soweird?
A whole new ball game.
First of all, you have to driveeverywhere.
There is public transportationin Atlanta, but because of
racism, it's so weird in thecity, like it goes around the
city rather than through itbecause there were neighborhoods
(03:10):
that didn't want the publictransportation to go through
their city, or I'm sorry,through their neighborhoods.
Um, again, because of racism,and so the public transportation
doesn't make sense, so you haveto have a car.
I have a lot of drivinganxiety, so having to drive
everywhere, especially inAtlanta.
Like, I was going from a placelike Pittsburgh, with like,
(03:31):
yeah, it's hilly, but it's likelittle roads, like two-lane
highways, nothing crazy.
Going from that to six-lanehighways, and people in Atlanta,
they drive the way their carslook.
If you've ever been to Atlantaand you've seen cars in Atlanta,
they drive the way their carslook.
And as someone who has so muchdriving anxiety and worrying
(03:53):
about like, I feel like I'm goodwhen I'm driving, like, I know
that I'm in complete control ofmy vehicle and I'm driving
safely.
My driving anxiety stems fromthe people around me because I
don't have I have trust issues,okay?
I don't trust people, and Idon't trust the fact that you're
operating your motorizedvehicle with a wheel and your
feet in a safe and proper way asto protect your life and also
(04:16):
my life.
Because I'm I'm watching you,I'm watching you go from this
lane to cross five other lanesto get to your exit.
Like I know that y'all are notbeing safe.
So that was a really big thingfor me of not really liking
Atlanta.
It was also very hard for me tomake friends because first and
foremost, that was when Istarted nannying, was when I
moved to Atlanta, and so as ananny, I'm with like a
(04:39):
19-month-old all day.
I don't really have co-workersor anyone to like build a
friendship with, you know what Imean?
And so I tried like bumble BFFfor a little bit.
I did meet a couple people, butit was like we met once and it
kind of like fizzled out, and sothat really didn't work to make
friends, and then I alsoremember like I was well when I
initially moved to Atlanta, Imoved in to my mom's house and I
(05:01):
was like apartment hunting, itwas just the easiest thing to do
because I didn't like I movedto Atlanta with no job.
I was like, I'll figure it outwhen I get there, and I did
figure it out, but that is kindof like a crazy thing to do.
Um, I've actually done that acouple of times.
Anyway, we'll we'll get to thatlater on in the story.
But so I was looking forapartments and I was looking for
(05:23):
potentially to have a roommate,but also to live by myself, so
I was like trying to look atboth because I thought that
would be an easy way for me toalso make friends because I
don't have you know co-workers,bumblebee isn't really working
out.
But if I'm living withsomebody, obviously you would
want your roommate to also beyour friend, so that could be
another way that I can makefriends.
Mm-mm.
(05:44):
Mm-mm.
I talked to so many people, andI didn't realize I think being
in Atlanta was my firstexperience with like scammers in
so many aspects.
There's so many people who arescamming in Atlanta with like
apartment listings, with peoplewho are trying to get into
apartments.
I remember I was talking tothis one girl, and she seemed
(06:08):
really cool, like we had a lotin common, conversations were
great, like I was like, okay,like we could really, you know,
be roommates.
And so where she lived in thecity, it was like very far from
where we were looking for anapartment.
Like, it can take an hour fromAtlanta to get to Atlanta, like
it's like crazy.
So I was like going to seeapartments for us in person
(06:29):
because I was already in thearea, much closer than she was.
And we had found an apartmentthat we really liked.
And so we were like, okay, likelet's apply.
We really like this, it looksgood, it's in our price range,
it has amenities that we want,blah, blah, blah, blah.
And so we were texting about,you know, applying.
And she says to me, like, oh, Ihave to use a CNA.
(06:49):
At the time, the only CNA thatI knew about was a certified
nurse's assistant.
So I was like, Oh, like, yeah,of course, you have to put your
job, like, so that you can, youknow, show that you can pay the
bills.
Like, yeah, I I have to putthat I'm a nanny.
That's that's how I'm applyingto.
And she was like, No, a CNA,like the the number.
And I was like, what are youtalking about?
(07:12):
And so I look it up, andthere's this thing called a CNA
that it gives you nine digits tolook like a social security
number, so that when umlandlords or whoever you're
giving this number to puts it intheir system to look you up,
it'll give you like a greatbackground, good credit score,
(07:33):
all this stuff.
And so I'm like, girl, what doyou have to use a CNA for?
Like, what's T?
What like what?
And she's like, Oh, you know, acouple years back, my man got
into some trouble and I took thefall for him.
What?
(07:54):
Mind you, she said, my man,current, current person that
she's in a relationship with.
So I'm like, Oh, yeah, I don'treally want to live with you no
more because I don't know whaty'all got going on.
Like, she was telling me likeit she had got a felony charge
or something.
(08:15):
I was just like, Yeah, no.
First and foremost, again,you're saying my man as in
current day.
So, like, obviously, if we'reliving together, he kind of
comes along with that becauseI'm sure you're gonna want him
to come over at some point, or Idon't know what y'all got going
on, but I I was just like,absolutely the fucking no,
(08:36):
absolutely the fuck not.
So I ended up telling her,like, you know, I don't maybe
we're not the best fit.
And I just I think I maybeblocked her.
I can't remember exactly how Iended it, but I was just like,
yeah, no, this is not gonna workfor me.
But that was something that Iwas continuously running into
with trying to find a roommateand trying to find someone to
(08:58):
live with, like, there wasalways something going on, or it
was just it was it wasn'tworking out, and so I
eventually, you know, I got myown place, which was nice.
Like, I had lived by myself inPittsburgh before I moved to
Atlanta.
But again, like I had thought,like, oh, I can have a roommate
because I didn't have anyfriends, and it was nice to have
(09:19):
my family there, but likesometimes you just want a friend
to kiki with, and you know,things had gone really south
with like my sister.
We were really close when Ifirst moved to Atlanta, but
that's a conversation foranother day.
Like that lore is is crazy.
Like, I have so much familylore that I'm just like sitting
(09:41):
on that I like one day we'llmaybe talk about it, but like
let me talk about it with atherapist first because I need
to unpack it and and yeah, butanyway, conversation for another
day, and then on top of youknow, the craziness with my
sisters and things like that,like I was in a relationship
which was the most toxicrelationship I've ever been in
in my entire life.
(10:01):
Also, a conversation foranother day, but I'm living in
Atlanta, I'm working and I lovemy job, but I don't have any
friends, I like don't ever doanything on the weekend, I have
you know, no like life outsideof work and my family, and so I
was very like I wouldn't say Iwas depressed, but I was like
(10:24):
always sad and you know didn'twant to get out of bed and
didn't really have an appetite,didn't really want to eat.
Okay, so maybe I was depressed.
Like, I don't know.
I was just very I was not in agood state.
That's like we can say that.
I just did not want to be inAtlanta, and so I was visiting
(10:44):
friends a lot in New York City,exploring the city, just like
trying to get out of Atlanta,and I remember thinking to
myself, like, oh, like I Ireally like New York City, like
I would really like to movethere.
But I was very scared, likemoving from Pittsburgh to
Atlanta was a leap for mebecause I moved there with no
(11:06):
job and figured it out once Igot there.
But I had someone to fall backon, like I could live with my
mom, you know, I had savingsbuilt up, I had a um a safety
net, you know what I mean?
But moving to New York City,like I don't have family here, I
would have to get an apartment,I would have to find a job, and
I didn't have any of that frommoving from Atlanta to New York
(11:27):
City, so it was always like inthe back of my mind, like, oh my
god, like I really want to moveto New York City, but I just
felt very afraid to because Iagain I didn't really have like
a safety net like I did when Imoved to Atlanta.
So moving to the city wassomething that I kept in the
back of my mind, but I wasalways just too afraid to do it
because it was such a leap forme.
Like the fear of moving herewith you know, no family, no
(11:51):
real security of a job oranything like that was like
holding me back.
But I remember I was at workwith Callie and her parents were
in the city.
I think Jay-Z had had like anopening for something or
something, and they had come tothe opening.
And my nanny kid's mom hadtexted me, and mind you, I had
(12:12):
never spoken to her aboutwanting to move to New York City
or my thoughts of like goingback and forth with if I should,
or you know, being afraid tomove to New York City or
anything like that.
But she had texted me and shewas like, I could really see you
living in New York City, andthat was really crazy to me
(12:32):
because again, I had neverspoken to her about it, but it
was something that was in theback of my mind, and I was like
asking God, like I'm not I wouldnever say that I'm a Christian
because Christians are likethey're I mean, we just had this
whole thing with oh therapture, like they're just like
really crazy, and I just I don'twell I'll also a conversation
(12:53):
for another day, but I would saythat I have a relationship with
God and like I pray and I askhim for signs and you know to
help me through difficult thingsthat I'm trying to to navigate,
you know what I mean?
And I just felt like that wassuch a sign for me because
again, I had never spoken to herabout wanting to move to New
York City, it was just somethingthat I was dealing with
(13:15):
internally.
I I hadn't spoken to anybodyabout it.
I I think maybe one or two ofmy friends in New York City, I
had talked to them about it, butit was very much just like, oh,
like I love the city, like Icould totally move here.
Like it was very much like athrowaway comment, you know.
But her texting me that justlike out of nowhere, I was like,
okay, I think that this mightbe something.
(13:35):
This has to be a sign, there'sno other explanation for it.
Because also, mind you, likeI'm her child's nanny.
So her telling me, you know,like, oh, you should move to New
York City, that benefits her inno way, in no way, shape, or
form, because now she has tofind a new nanny for her child,
and like she has to go throughthat whole process, which is can
(13:57):
be really stressful in and ofitself.
And so I was like, okay, likethis has to be some sort of
sign.
And so I texted her back and Iwas just like, I've been
thinking about that for a whilenow, and you know, my lease is
up soon, like I'm trying tofigure out, you know, if I'm
gonna re-sign my lease or moveto the city.
Like, that's really crazy thatyou just texted me that because
I've been thinking about thatfor a while now, and so she was
(14:19):
like, you know, once I get backto the city, if you want to get
coffee or something, like weshould get coffee and just like
talk about it.
And so we got coffee one day,and she was just telling me,
like, I can really see you inNew York City.
I feel like that it fits yourvibe very well.
I don't know, maybe she sawthat I was a little unhappy in
Atlanta.
Um, but she was just like, youknow, telling me, like, I think
(14:41):
you should go for it, I thinkyou should do it.
And again, this is of nobenefit to her because now she
has to find a new nanny for herdaughter and like all of that.
And so I remember I went homeafter that and I was just like,
I should do it, like I shouldjust move to New York City.
I have a little bit of savingsfor you know me to fall back on
in the event that it takes me alittle bit to find a job.
(15:02):
And so I spoke to my friends inthe city, and I was like, I
think I'm gonna do it.
Like, if you have any tips oranything like that, like let me
know.
And so they were, you know,telling me about like these um
Facebook groups to findroommates and you know, telling
me like what areas would be niceand everything like that.
And so I joined these Facebookgroups.
I, you know, talked to a coupleof people, and I remember I was
(15:26):
messaging with this one girl,her name was Yaz, and you know,
we were talking about moving tothe city, and then she had told
me, like, oh, I'm moving to thecity a little bit later than
you, so I don't think that wecould work out as roommates.
And I was like, you know, likeno problem, you know, if we're
in the city at the same time,eventually, like we should get
together, get coffee, or youknow, something.
And so I have like I think Ihad like two months left on my
(15:48):
lease or a month, a month and ahalf, something around there.
So I have like this littlewindow of time to like figure it
out and move to the city.
And I'm not gonna lie, it wasvery stressful, it was very
difficult because I also haveyou know my dog Luna, who was
moving gonna move with me, andso like some people didn't want
to live with a dog, or you know,Luna gets a bad rap because she
(16:10):
is a pit mix, and so people arelike, oh, like scary pit bull.
Biggest baby I've ever met inmy entire life is Luna.
But anyway, I'm talking tothese people, and it doesn't
seem like I I have a very smallwindow of time, and so my mom's
telling me, like, you know, ifyou want to move back in with me
until you figure it out, likethat's an option.
So shout out to my mom, such asuch a fallback for me and a
(16:31):
safety net, and I I soappreciative of that because I
know people don't have that, andso I'm very grateful that my
mom has always been sosupportive of me.
I know I I already know, like,when I told her I was moving to
New York City, she was probablyvery sad.
She didn't say that to me,obviously, but I'm just like,
oh, that was the hardestconversation I think for me to
have was telling my mom, like,I'm moving to New York City
(16:54):
because I had just moved toAtlanta like two years prior.
And so I know like that wasprobably hard for her, but I
know that she's always gonna besupportive of me and like my
dreams, and so she was alwayslike, you know, whatever you
need from me to help you withthis move, like let me know,
which was amazing.
And oh, I just love my mom somuch.
Anyway, conversation foranother day.
She'll she's gonna come on thepod one day, she has to, she has
(17:16):
no choice, but anyway, and soI'm talking to these people, and
it's not seeming to really workout.
And then I remember one day Igot another message from Yaz,
the girl that I had spoken tolike months prior, and she was
like, Hey, like, actually, myplans have changed, and you
know, I'm moving to the citywhen you are, and I've met this
other girl, Talia, we're lookingfor a third roommate.
(17:38):
Are you so interested?
And I was like, Oh my god, yes,because like everything else
had been falling through anddifferent things like that, and
so we all hopped on a FaceTimecall, and vibes seemed really
well, and I was like, Oh my god,I hope they like me, I hope
they like Luna.
Because they had told me theywere transparent with me and
told me like we're talking toother people, you know, to see
who would be the best fit.
(17:59):
But I was like fingers crossed,like they really like me.
And a couple hours later, theyhad texted me and was like, you
know, if you want to move inwith us, we would love to have
you.
And I was like, Oh my god, yes.
So we all fill out theapplication, and you know, we
get approved.
And literally, like two minutesafter we were approved for the
apartment and had paideverything, and which was also
(18:20):
very stressful becauseobviously, once you get an
apartment, you have to pay firstmonth's rent, security deposit,
blah blah blah blah.
But I'm in Atlanta and I had toget it to New York, so I had to
send like four thousand dollarsthrough the mail.
I was so fucking stressed outbecause I'm like, if this four
thousand dollars gets somehowlost, like I'm not trying to pay
(18:42):
eight thousand dollars and likeyou know what I'm saying?
So that was stressful in and ofitself.
But like once the check gotthere and you know everything
was fine and we had gotten ourapartment.
I had like a second of oh shit,like what did I just do?
Because again, I was moving tothe city with no job.
I had talked to a couple offamilies to potentially nanny
(19:03):
for, but obviously they want tomeet you in person and they want
to see like how you interactwith their child before they're
like, Okay, yeah, you can be mykid's nanny.
And so I was talking tofamilies, interviewing, I say in
quotes, because like obviouslyif someone's already in the
city, they're they're gonna wantto go with that option.
And so I moved to New York Citywith no job and no real like
(19:26):
security or safety net because Ididn't have any family here,
and and so I was like, oh shit,like did I did I make the right
decision?
Like I got really nervous, butat that point, like I had
already paid, the the lease wassigned, there was no no real
turning back, and so my mom cameover and helped me, you know,
pack up all my stuff in myapartment, and the only way for
(19:49):
me to get from Atlanta to NewYork City because of Luna was to
drive, and so I rented a pickuptruck, it was a Dodge Ram, it
had a a flatbed like um in theback, rented that and had to
drive that from Atlanta to NewYork City.
(20:09):
Mind you again, I have drivinganxiety, and the only car that I
had ever driven, likeregularly, was my little niece
on Sentra.
So to go from that to Brutus, Inamed this truck Brutus because
it was just so big and heftyand just like so manly, you
know.
And so I was like, that wasgiving me anxiety, but I was
(20:33):
like, no, there's no turningback now.
Like I've already signed thelease, everything's packed up,
everything's in this truck, likewe're gonna have to figure it
out.
And so I remember September30th, I left Atlanta and I drove
from Atlanta to Virginia,stayed the night in this like
crazy ratchet, um, extended stayin Virginia.
(20:56):
Like it was just it was soraggedy.
The I remember I sat down onthe bed, like literally just sat
down and the bed frame broke.
And I was like, damn, like thiswagon I'm dragging is crazy
breaking beds and shit.
And I could hear like a couplein the next room like arguing.
Like it was just, it was justreally crazy.
But thankfully I stayed therefor just one night and then I
(21:17):
drove from Virginia to New YorkCity.
And I remember once I got inNew York City, I could tell that
I was in the city because I wasdriving slow, okay?
Because I'm driving this bigass pickup truck, scared for my
life, and I remember people werelike honking at me, wanting me
to go faster, and I was like,bitch, go the fuck around me.
Like, I'm not going any fasterthan I'm going right now.
(21:38):
Like, I'm already scared ofthis big ass truck, and I had
already I had scraped up theside of the truck, taking it out
of the fucking airport parkinglot.
I remember in Atlanta, I wentto get the truck, and I was
trying to get out of the Atlantaairport, and I was literally
just like going in circles inthis parking garage, not sure
like where the fuck the exitwas.
(21:59):
And I remember I had gone downinto some place that I
definitely wasn't supposed to bein, and so I turned around,
went back up, and as I wasturning, there was like this
wall, and I literally scraped upthe the fucking truck on this
wall, and I was like, I haven'teven left the fucking airport
parking lot yet, and I'm alreadydamaging this fucking shit.
(22:20):
Thankfully, I had gotteninsurance on the car because I
already knew that I was gonnaneed it because I just didn't
trust myself and I was like, ifanything happens, I need to make
sure that I'm doubly insured.
And thankfully I did because Ihad scraped it before I even
left the fucking airport, andthen they were like, Oh, do you
want another truck?
What?
(22:41):
Like, no, I'll just take thescraped up one.
I'm not trying to damage morethan one truck, but they were
ready to give me a second truckafter I had already damaged
their first one.
Anyway, so I was driving slowbecause I wasn't trying to, you
know, cause any more damage tothis truck, and everyone, like
the New Yorkers, they're soimpatient.
They're like honking at me andwanting me to go faster, and I'm
(23:02):
like, bitch, go around me.
Cause shit, don't no, I'm notgoing any faster.
But I got to the city and I hadtexted Talia the day before,
and I was like, hey, like I'llbe there tomorrow.
Would you be able to help me,you know, unpack my truck?
Because I was coming fromAtlanta, Yaz was coming from
Ohio, and Talia was coming fromshe was already in the city, and
(23:23):
so she like came and that'swhen I first met her in person,
and she helped me unpack thetruck, and then we drove to the
airport to drop the truck off,and then got an Uber back.
And I was so fucking happy tobe out of that fuck ass truck.
Like, I never want to drive atruck like that ever again.
One and done for me.
Don't want to drive a trucklike that again, and never want
(23:44):
to drive in New York City againbecause it was just all chaotic.
But I remember like we cameback to the apartment, and then
a little bit later, you know,Yaz was flying from Ohio, so she
came and we all got alongreally well instantly, so that
was great.
I didn't feel like I had toworry about you know who I was
living with, but again, I stilldidn't have a job, and so now
I'm like in the city, and so I'mable to meet families in person
(24:09):
and and talk about knitting anddifferent things like that, but
it still wasn't going verywell.
Like, I had lived here for Ithink two weeks at that time,
and I know like in hindsight,two weeks isn't really a lot of
time, but for me, I was like, II need to work, like I was
starting to get very bored, Ididn't really have much to do,
(24:30):
and so I was like, Oh, I need towork, and so I started working
at this daycare, which was okay.
I I wanted to nanny becauseobviously with nannying, it's
much more lucrative, and likeworking in the daycare was fine,
but I was like, I'm not gonnabe able to do this for a long
time and sustain myself.
Do you know what I mean?
Like, I needed something thatwas offering me more, but for
(24:53):
the time being, like, it wasokay.
The lady who ran the daycarewas a little, a little wonky,
she was a little interesting,but I was like, hey, a job's a
job at this point, like I justneeded to work, and so as I was
working at this daycare, I wasin like Facebook groups of like
you know, looking for nanny jobsand also applying to like nanny
agencies and things like that.
(25:14):
And so I had just posted, like,hey, like if anybody needs like
a babysitter or something, likelet me know, like I'm free to
babysit on the weekends orwhatever.
And this one family reached outto me, and so I started
babysitting for them, and theneventually, like, they were
like, Hey, we have these friendswho need a nanny.
Do you mind if I give them, youknow, your information?
(25:34):
And I was like, Absolutely,like, that's what I want to do.
And that's how I ended upfinding my nanny job.
Like, it didn't work throughthe Facebook groups, the nanny
agencies didn't help.
It was literally just like wordof mouth.
Um, and so I interviewed withthe nanny family that I'm I'm
with them now.
I've been with them since Imoved here.
Like, I started working withthem a month after I moved to
(25:55):
the city, which has been great.
I've been able to experience somany things, like with the
family that I nanny with, andit's a great family, and I've
gotten to travel with them andexperience things that I've I've
just like never experiencedbefore with working with them.
And I understand that all ofthis was a very long story, but
the the point that I'm trying tomake is that I wouldn't be in
(26:15):
this city that I absolutelylove.
Moving to New York City was thebest thing that I could have
done for myself in this amazingcity, working for this family,
getting to experience all ofthese things because I took a
chance on myself, because I tooka leap of faith and I said, you
know what, I don't have it allfigured out, but I'll figure it
out once I get there.
(26:36):
And I think that has beensomething that has been always
been kind of difficult for mebecause I'm a very like, okay, I
need to know how this thing isgonna work out.
I need to know all of thesteps.
But with moving to New YorkCity, like I didn't have
everything figured out, and Iwas just like, you know what,
I'll figure it out once I getthere.
And it has been the mostlife-changing thing for me
(26:57):
because I've done so many thingsthat I've wanted to do since
moving here.
I've started my podcast, I'vestarted, you know, posting other
content and doing contentcreation, and I just feel like,
especially as black women, we'renot always encouraged to really
take chances on ourselves or todo something unless we have
everything figured out, and likethat's really just no way to
(27:19):
live life.
Like, you can't plan everysingle thing.
Obviously, I'm not saying tojust like go out there and move
to a whole nother country orcity or whatever with no, like,
obviously, I moved here and Ihad you know a little bit of
savings and you know things tofall back on, but I did not have
everything figured out, andthat's okay.
Like, we can do that, like wecan live life without having to
(27:42):
try and to to figure out everysingle thing or have every
little detail figured out, everyI dotted, every T cross, like
the fear of not knowing whatcould happen.
I feel like, at least for mepersonally, has held me back a
lot in my life.
And with moving to New YorkCity, I'm so grateful for it
(28:03):
because it's really allowed meto step outside of my comfort
zone and do things that I'vealways wanted to do and just
figure it out.
Like, we don't have to haveeverything figured out from the
beginning, we can just figurethings out as we go, and so I'm
so grateful to you know, mynanny kid in Atlanta.
I'm so grateful to her mombecause like without her words
(28:25):
of encouragement, I don't evenknow that I would have even
taken the chance on myself.
But I'm really happy that shegave me those words of
encouragement, and I'm so happythat I listened to them and and
took that chance because now I'min New York City and I feel
like this is really where I'msupposed to be.
Like, I've moved it around alittle bit in my life, like
Pennsylvania, Atlanta, and nowNew York City, and I I swear New
(28:47):
York City truly is it's myvibe, it just fits me, and I
feel like I can be both sides ofmyself.
Like, if I need to be like moreintroverted and stay at home, I
can do that.
If I want to go explore and dosomething in the city, I can do
that because there's alwayssomething going on.
And again, I would not know anyof this if I did not take that
(29:09):
chance on myself, and so I justwanted to encourage anyone who
might be listening.
If you were looking for a signto take a chance on yourself or
to take a leap of faith or dosomething like this is it, this
is it.
You do not have to haveeverything figured out, you can
figure it out once you getthere, and it could be it could
be the best decision that you'veever made in your life.
(29:31):
I truly feel like moving to NewYork City was the best thing
that I could do for myself, andI'm so grateful that I pushed
myself and that I was given thepush by my nanny kid's mom to
just do the thing that I wantedto do, and so I wanted to do
that for you guys today and justencourage you that if there's
something that you've beenthinking about and you've been
(29:52):
trying to weigh the options ofif you should do it or if you
shouldn't do it, this is yoursign to do it.
Now, obviously.
Take this with a grain of salt,okay?
And also, like, there arethings that you have to do to
follow, you know, maybe thething that you're thinking
about.
So do do the thing logically,whatever it is that you might be
(30:13):
thinking about, do that thinglogically, but also just realize
like you don't have to haveevery single step figured out.
There are things that you canfigure out once you take that
chance, make that move, takethat step.
You know what I mean?
Again, thank you all for beinghere.
I'm so so grateful for all ofyou.
We're making moves.
Oh, RIP to the brick wall.
(30:34):
I'm actually so sad.
I really love this exposedbrick.
When I first seen it, I wasjust like, I don't know how I
feel about that, but I've reallyenjoyed this exposed brick.
It's just like it's just itadds just a an element of life
to the apartment.
I don't know, but my newapartment unfortunately doesn't
have any exposed brick.
So if you're a visual watcher,this is the last time we'll see
(30:59):
the exposed brick.
I'm really sad about it.
It's really bittersweet becausethis is the apartment that I
decided to follow my dreams anddo the things that I've always
wanted to do.
So I have like an emotionalconnection to it, but also I
can't wait to get the fuck outof this apartment because the
management in this apartment isfucking ass.
Bittersweet, but I'm reallyexcited for you know the changes
and the moves, and I'm so sograteful for you all being here.
(31:22):
And I just wanted to encourageanyone, if anyone needed a sign,
to bet on themselves, take aleap of faith, do that thing
that you may have always beenwanting to do.
This is your sign because younever know what could happen
when you bet on yourself.
It could be the mostlife-changing thing that you've
ever done.
Thank you so much for tuning into today's episode.
I hope everyone's having a goodweek, except for that orange
(31:42):
jig lady.
And I will talk to you in thenext episode.
Peace and love.
Talk to you later.
The napkin in between, hostedby Daijne Jones, produced by
Daijne Jones, post production byDaijne Jones, music by Sam
Champagne, and graphics by IsmaVidal.
Don't forget to like andsubscribe.
See you next episode.
Is this thing on?
Hello, hello.
Uh-oh.
Another yuffer with a mic.
Hello everyone and welcome backto the napkin in between
podcast.
I am your host, Asian A Jones.
I hope everyone's been having agood week except for that
(00:22):
orange drink lady.
Of course.
Y'all, I'm feeling reallysentimental today because this
is our last episode in thisapartment.
I'm actually like it's sobittersweet because like I've
done so many firsts in thisapartment.
Oh, pause.
That sounds really crazy.
(00:42):
Firsts in my content creationjourney.
But also, like the managementof this apartment is fucking
ass.
So I am very excited to moveand hopefully the management in
my next apartment will bebetter.
But I'm just like, oh, I'm justfeeling very sentimental.
Like, we're not gonna have thebrick wall anymore.
And oh I don't know, guys.
(01:03):
I'm just feeling very, verysentimental, and I'm reminiscing
on my move to New York City.
I moved to New York City twoyears ago, October 1st will be
two years.
I've been in this apartment forthe last two years since I've
moved to New York City, and solike packing everything up and
moving to another apartment, itjust has me like reminiscing on
moving to New York City and howI got here.
(01:24):
And I don't think that I'veever shared this story.
So I'm gonna share it with youguys today because I'm just
feeling very sentimental and I'mreminiscing, and it's just like
oh, it's so bittersweet.
I think I've mentioned itbefore, but I moved to New York
City from Atlanta.
I'm originally fromPennsylvania, but I moved to
Atlanta in 2021.
(01:46):
Yeah, 2021, because my momlives down there, she's been
down there for 13 years orsomething crazy.
And so I was like, I want to becloser to my mom and you know
be around family.
My nephews are also down there.
My sisters were down there.
I don't speak to them anymore,but at the time that was part of
the reason that I moved theretoo, because I wanted to be
closer to my sisters and just becloser to family in general.
(02:07):
I was like the only person inmy family that was still in
Pennsylvania.
Everyone else was like hadmoved south.
I have like family in NorthCarolina, my mom was in Atlanta,
so I was like, let me just movecloser and be close to family.
And so I moved to Atlanta fromPittsburgh, I was living in
Pittsburgh, moved to Atlanta,and I feel like I learned fairly
quickly that Atlanta was reallynot for me.
(02:28):
Like, there were some goodparts about it.
Of course, I was closer to mymom and my sisters and my nieces
and nephews, and you know,closer to family.
But being in this city was justlike it's just not my city.
I would say that I enjoyvisiting Atlanta because there
is a lot of like my family'sthere, the food is great, but
(02:48):
like to live there, whole newball game.
Why did I say ball game soweird?
A whole new ball game.
First of all, you have to driveeverywhere.
There is public transportationin Atlanta, but because of
racism, it's so weird in thecity, like it goes around the
city rather than through itbecause there were neighborhoods
(03:10):
that didn't want the publictransportation to go through
their city, or I'm sorry,through their neighborhoods.
Um, again, because of racism,and so the public transportation
doesn't make sense, so you haveto have a car.
I have a lot of drivinganxiety, so having to drive
everywhere, especially inAtlanta.
Like, I was going from a placelike Pittsburgh, with like,
(03:31):
yeah, it's hilly, but it's likelittle roads, like two-lane
highways, nothing crazy.
Going from that to six-lanehighways, and people in Atlanta,
they drive the way their carslook.
If you've ever been to Atlantaand you've seen cars in Atlanta,
they drive the way their carslook.
And as someone who has so muchdriving anxiety and worrying
(03:53):
about like, I feel like I'm goodwhen I'm driving, like, I know
that I'm in complete control ofmy vehicle and I'm driving
safely.
My driving anxiety stems fromthe people around me because I
don't have I have trust issues,okay?
I don't trust people, and Idon't trust the fact that you're
operating your motorizedvehicle with a wheel and your
feet in a safe and proper way asto protect your life and also
(04:16):
my life.
Because I'm I'm watching you,I'm watching you go from this
lane to cross five other lanesto get to your exit.
Like I know that y'all are notbeing safe.
So that was a really big thingfor me of not really liking
Atlanta.
It was also very hard for me tomake friends because first and
foremost, that was when Istarted nannying, was when I
moved to Atlanta, and so as ananny, I'm with like a
(04:39):
19-month-old all day.
I don't really have co-workersor anyone to like build a
friendship with, you know what Imean?
And so I tried like bumble BFFfor a little bit.
I did meet a couple people, butit was like we met once and it
kind of like fizzled out, and sothat really didn't work to make
friends, and then I alsoremember like I was well when I
initially moved to Atlanta, Imoved in to my mom's house and I
(05:01):
was like apartment hunting, itwas just the easiest thing to do
because I didn't like I movedto Atlanta with no job.
I was like, I'll figure it outwhen I get there, and I did
figure it out, but that is kindof like a crazy thing to do.
Um, I've actually done that acouple of times.
Anyway, we'll we'll get to thatlater on in the story.
But so I was looking forapartments and I was looking for
(05:23):
potentially to have a roommate,but also to live by myself, so
I was like trying to look atboth because I thought that
would be an easy way for me toalso make friends because I
don't have you know co-workers,bumblebee isn't really working
out.
But if I'm living withsomebody, obviously you would
want your roommate to also beyour friend, so that could be
another way that I can makefriends.
Mm-mm.
(05:44):
Mm-mm.
I talked to so many people, andI didn't realize I think being
in Atlanta was my firstexperience with like scammers in
so many aspects.
There's so many people who arescamming in Atlanta with like
apartment listings, with peoplewho are trying to get into
apartments.
I remember I was talking tothis one girl, and she seemed
(06:08):
really cool, like we had a lotin common, conversations were
great, like I was like, okay,like we could really, you know,
be roommates.
And so where she lived in thecity, it was like very far from
where we were looking for anapartment.
Like, it can take an hour fromAtlanta to get to Atlanta, like
it's like crazy.
So I was like going to seeapartments for us in person
(06:29):
because I was already in thearea, much closer than she was.
And we had found an apartmentthat we really liked.
And so we were like, okay, likelet's apply.
We really like this, it looksgood, it's in our price range,
it has amenities that we want,blah, blah, blah, blah.
And so we were texting about,you know, applying.
And she says to me, like, oh, Ihave to use a CNA.
(06:49):
At the time, the only CNA thatI knew about was a certified
nurse's assistant.
So I was like, Oh, like, yeah,of course, you have to put your
job, like, so that you can, youknow, show that you can pay the
bills.
Like, yeah, I I have to putthat I'm a nanny.
That's that's how I'm applyingto.
And she was like, No, a CNA,like the the number.
And I was like, what are youtalking about?
(07:12):
And so I look it up, andthere's this thing called a CNA
that it gives you nine digits tolook like a social security
number, so that when umlandlords or whoever you're
giving this number to puts it intheir system to look you up,
it'll give you like a greatbackground, good credit score,
(07:33):
all this stuff.
And so I'm like, girl, what doyou have to use a CNA for?
Like, what's T?
What like what?
And she's like, Oh, you know, acouple years back, my man got
into some trouble and I took thefall for him.
What?
(07:54):
Mind you, she said, my man,current, current person that
she's in a relationship with.
So I'm like, Oh, yeah, I don'treally want to live with you no
more because I don't know whaty'all got going on.
Like, she was telling me likeit she had got a felony charge
or something.
(08:15):
I was just like, Yeah, no.
First and foremost, again,you're saying my man as in
current day.
So, like, obviously, if we'reliving together, he kind of
comes along with that becauseI'm sure you're gonna want him
to come over at some point, or Idon't know what y'all got going
on, but I I was just like,absolutely the fucking no,
(08:36):
absolutely the fuck not.
So I ended up telling her,like, you know, I don't maybe
we're not the best fit.
And I just I think I maybeblocked her.
I can't remember exactly how Iended it, but I was just like,
yeah, no, this is not gonna workfor me.
But that was something that Iwas continuously running into
with trying to find a roommateand trying to find someone to
(08:58):
live with, like, there wasalways something going on, or it
was just it was it wasn'tworking out, and so I
eventually, you know, I got myown place, which was nice.
Like, I had lived by myself inPittsburgh before I moved to
Atlanta.
But again, like I had thought,like, oh, I can have a roommate
because I didn't have anyfriends, and it was nice to have
(09:19):
my family there, but likesometimes you just want a friend
to kiki with, and you know,things had gone really south
with like my sister.
We were really close when Ifirst moved to Atlanta, but
that's a conversation foranother day.
Like that lore is is crazy.
Like, I have so much familylore that I'm just like sitting
(09:41):
on that I like one day we'llmaybe talk about it, but like
let me talk about it with atherapist first because I need
to unpack it and and yeah, butanyway, conversation for another
day, and then on top of youknow, the craziness with my
sisters and things like that,like I was in a relationship
which was the most toxicrelationship I've ever been in
in my entire life.
(10:01):
Also, a conversation foranother day, but I'm living in
Atlanta, I'm working and I lovemy job, but I don't have any
friends, I like don't ever doanything on the weekend, I have
you know, no like life outsideof work and my family, and so I
was very like I wouldn't say Iwas depressed, but I was like
(10:24):
always sad and you know didn'twant to get out of bed and
didn't really have an appetite,didn't really want to eat.
Okay, so maybe I was depressed.
Like, I don't know.
I was just very I was not in agood state.
That's like we can say that.
I just did not want to be inAtlanta, and so I was visiting
(10:44):
friends a lot in New York City,exploring the city, just like
trying to get out of Atlanta,and I remember thinking to
myself, like, oh, like I Ireally like New York City, like
I would really like to movethere.
But I was very scared, likemoving from Pittsburgh to
Atlanta was a leap for mebecause I moved there with no
(11:06):
job and figured it out once Igot there.
But I had someone to fall backon, like I could live with my
mom, you know, I had savingsbuilt up, I had a um a safety
net, you know what I mean?
But moving to New York City,like I don't have family here, I
would have to get an apartment,I would have to find a job, and
I didn't have any of that frommoving from Atlanta to New York
(11:27):
City, so it was always like inthe back of my mind, like, oh my
god, like I really want to moveto New York City, but I just
felt very afraid to because Iagain I didn't really have like
a safety net like I did when Imoved to Atlanta.
So moving to the city wassomething that I kept in the
back of my mind, but I wasalways just too afraid to do it
because it was such a leap forme.
Like the fear of moving herewith you know, no family, no
(11:51):
real security of a job oranything like that was like
holding me back.
But I remember I was at workwith Callie and her parents were
in the city.
I think Jay-Z had had like anopening for something or
something, and they had come tothe opening.
And my nanny kid's mom hadtexted me, and mind you, I had
(12:12):
never spoken to her aboutwanting to move to New York City
or my thoughts of like goingback and forth with if I should,
or you know, being afraid tomove to New York City or
anything like that.
But she had texted me and shewas like, I could really see you
living in New York City, andthat was really crazy to me
(12:32):
because again, I had neverspoken to her about it, but it
was something that was in theback of my mind, and I was like
asking God, like I'm not I wouldnever say that I'm a Christian
because Christians are likethey're I mean, we just had this
whole thing with oh therapture, like they're just like
really crazy, and I just I don'twell I'll also a conversation
(12:53):
for another day, but I would saythat I have a relationship with
God and like I pray and I askhim for signs and you know to
help me through difficult thingsthat I'm trying to to navigate,
you know what I mean?
And I just felt like that wassuch a sign for me because
again, I had never spoken to herabout wanting to move to New
York City, it was just somethingthat I was dealing with
(13:15):
internally.
I I hadn't spoken to anybodyabout it.
I I think maybe one or two ofmy friends in New York City, I
had talked to them about it, butit was very much just like, oh,
like I love the city, like Icould totally move here.
Like it was very much like athrowaway comment, you know.
But her texting me that justlike out of nowhere, I was like,
okay, I think that this mightbe something.
(13:35):
This has to be a sign, there'sno other explanation for it.
Because also, mind you, likeI'm her child's nanny.
So her telling me, you know,like, oh, you should move to New
York City, that benefits her inno way, in no way, shape, or
form, because now she has tofind a new nanny for her child,
and like she has to go throughthat whole process, which is can
(13:57):
be really stressful in and ofitself.
And so I was like, okay, likethis has to be some sort of
sign.
And so I texted her back and Iwas just like, I've been
thinking about that for a whilenow, and you know, my lease is
up soon, like I'm trying tofigure out, you know, if I'm
gonna re-sign my lease or moveto the city.
Like, that's really crazy thatyou just texted me that because
I've been thinking about thatfor a while now, and so she was
(14:19):
like, you know, once I get backto the city, if you want to get
coffee or something, like weshould get coffee and just like
talk about it.
And so we got coffee one day,and she was just telling me,
like, I can really see you inNew York City.
I feel like that it fits yourvibe very well.
I don't know, maybe she sawthat I was a little unhappy in
Atlanta.
Um, but she was just like, youknow, telling me, like, I think
(14:41):
you should go for it, I thinkyou should do it.
And again, this is of nobenefit to her because now she
has to find a new nanny for herdaughter and like all of that.
And so I remember I went homeafter that and I was just like,
I should do it, like I shouldjust move to New York City.
I have a little bit of savingsfor you know me to fall back on
in the event that it takes me alittle bit to find a job.
(15:02):
And so I spoke to my friends inthe city, and I was like, I
think I'm gonna do it.
Like, if you have any tips oranything like that, like let me
know.
And so they were, you know,telling me about like these um
Facebook groups to findroommates and you know, telling
me like what areas would be niceand everything like that.
And so I joined these Facebookgroups.
I, you know, talked to a coupleof people, and I remember I was
(15:26):
messaging with this one girl,her name was Yaz, and you know,
we were talking about moving tothe city, and then she had told
me, like, oh, I'm moving to thecity a little bit later than
you, so I don't think that wecould work out as roommates.
And I was like, you know, likeno problem, you know, if we're
in the city at the same time,eventually, like we should get
together, get coffee, or youknow, something.
And so I have like I think Ihad like two months left on my
(15:48):
lease or a month, a month and ahalf, something around there.
So I have like this littlewindow of time to like figure it
out and move to the city.
And I'm not gonna lie, it wasvery stressful, it was very
difficult because I also haveyou know my dog Luna, who was
moving gonna move with me, andso like some people didn't want
to live with a dog, or you know,Luna gets a bad rap because she
(16:10):
is a pit mix, and so people arelike, oh, like scary pit bull.
Biggest baby I've ever met inmy entire life is Luna.
But anyway, I'm talking tothese people, and it doesn't
seem like I I have a very smallwindow of time, and so my mom's
telling me, like, you know, ifyou want to move back in with me
until you figure it out, likethat's an option.
So shout out to my mom, such asuch a fallback for me and a
(16:31):
safety net, and I I soappreciative of that because I
know people don't have that, andso I'm very grateful that my
mom has always been sosupportive of me.
I know I I already know, like,when I told her I was moving to
New York City, she was probablyvery sad.
She didn't say that to me,obviously, but I'm just like,
oh, that was the hardestconversation I think for me to
have was telling my mom, like,I'm moving to New York City
(16:54):
because I had just moved toAtlanta like two years prior.
And so I know like that wasprobably hard for her, but I
know that she's always gonna besupportive of me and like my
dreams, and so she was alwayslike, you know, whatever you
need from me to help you withthis move, like let me know,
which was amazing.
And oh, I just love my mom somuch.
Anyway, conversation foranother day.
She'll she's gonna come on thepod one day, she has to, she has
(17:16):
no choice, but anyway, and soI'm talking to these people, and
it's not seeming to really workout.
And then I remember one day Igot another message from Yaz,
the girl that I had spoken tolike months prior, and she was
like, Hey, like, actually, myplans have changed, and you
know, I'm moving to the citywhen you are, and I've met this
other girl, Talia, we're lookingfor a third roommate.
(17:38):
Are you so interested?
And I was like, Oh my god, yes,because like everything else
had been falling through anddifferent things like that, and
so we all hopped on a FaceTimecall, and vibes seemed really
well, and I was like, Oh my god,I hope they like me, I hope
they like Luna.
Because they had told me theywere transparent with me and
told me like we're talking toother people, you know, to see
who would be the best fit.
(17:59):
But I was like fingers crossed,like they really like me.
And a couple hours later, theyhad texted me and was like, you
know, if you want to move inwith us, we would love to have
you.
And I was like, Oh my god, yes.
So we all fill out theapplication, and you know, we
get approved.
And literally, like two minutesafter we were approved for the
apartment and had paideverything, and which was also
(18:20):
very stressful becauseobviously, once you get an
apartment, you have to pay firstmonth's rent, security deposit,
blah blah blah blah.
But I'm in Atlanta and I had toget it to New York, so I had to
send like four thousand dollarsthrough the mail.
I was so fucking stressed outbecause I'm like, if this four
thousand dollars gets somehowlost, like I'm not trying to pay
(18:42):
eight thousand dollars and likeyou know what I'm saying?
So that was stressful in and ofitself.
But like once the check gotthere and you know everything
was fine and we had gotten ourapartment.
I had like a second of oh shit,like what did I just do?
Because again, I was moving tothe city with no job.
I had talked to a couple offamilies to potentially nanny
(19:03):
for, but obviously they want tomeet you in person and they want
to see like how you interactwith their child before they're
like, Okay, yeah, you can be mykid's nanny.
And so I was talking tofamilies, interviewing, I say in
quotes, because like obviouslyif someone's already in the
city, they're they're gonna wantto go with that option.
And so I moved to New York Citywith no job and no real like
(19:26):
security or safety net because Ididn't have any family here,
and and so I was like, oh shit,like did I did I make the right
decision?
Like I got really nervous, butat that point, like I had
already paid, the the lease wassigned, there was no no real
turning back, and so my mom cameover and helped me, you know,
pack up all my stuff in myapartment, and the only way for
(19:49):
me to get from Atlanta to NewYork City because of Luna was to
drive, and so I rented a pickuptruck, it was a Dodge Ram, it
had a a flatbed like um in theback, rented that and had to
drive that from Atlanta to NewYork City.
(20:09):
Mind you again, I have drivinganxiety, and the only car that I
had ever driven, likeregularly, was my little niece
on Sentra.
So to go from that to Brutus, Inamed this truck Brutus because
it was just so big and heftyand just like so manly, you
know.
And so I was like, that wasgiving me anxiety, but I was
(20:33):
like, no, there's no turningback now.
Like I've already signed thelease, everything's packed up,
everything's in this truck, likewe're gonna have to figure it
out.
And so I remember September30th, I left Atlanta and I drove
from Atlanta to Virginia,stayed the night in this like
crazy ratchet, um, extended stayin Virginia.
(20:56):
Like it was just it was soraggedy.
The I remember I sat down onthe bed, like literally just sat
down and the bed frame broke.
And I was like, damn, like thiswagon I'm dragging is crazy
breaking beds and shit.
And I could hear like a couplein the next room like arguing.
Like it was just, it was justreally crazy.
But thankfully I stayed therefor just one night and then I
(21:17):
drove from Virginia to New YorkCity.
And I remember once I got inNew York City, I could tell that
I was in the city because I wasdriving slow, okay?
Because I'm driving this bigass pickup truck, scared for my
life, and I remember people werelike honking at me, wanting me
to go faster, and I was like,bitch, go the fuck around me.
Like, I'm not going any fasterthan I'm going right now.
(21:38):
Like, I'm already scared ofthis big ass truck, and I had
already I had scraped up theside of the truck, taking it out
of the fucking airport parkinglot.
I remember in Atlanta, I wentto get the truck, and I was
trying to get out of the Atlantaairport, and I was literally
just like going in circles inthis parking garage, not sure
like where the fuck the exitwas.
(21:59):
And I remember I had gone downinto some place that I
definitely wasn't supposed to bein, and so I turned around,
went back up, and as I wasturning, there was like this
wall, and I literally scraped upthe the fucking truck on this
wall, and I was like, I haven'teven left the fucking airport
parking lot yet, and I'm alreadydamaging this fucking shit.
(22:20):
Thankfully, I had gotteninsurance on the car because I
already knew that I was gonnaneed it because I just didn't
trust myself and I was like, ifanything happens, I need to make
sure that I'm doubly insured.
And thankfully I did because Ihad scraped it before I even
left the fucking airport, andthen they were like, Oh, do you
want another truck?
What?
(22:41):
Like, no, I'll just take thescraped up one.
I'm not trying to damage morethan one truck, but they were
ready to give me a second truckafter I had already damaged
their first one.
Anyway, so I was driving slowbecause I wasn't trying to, you
know, cause any more damage tothis truck, and everyone, like
the New Yorkers, they're soimpatient.
They're like honking at me andwanting me to go faster, and I'm
(23:02):
like, bitch, go around me.
Cause shit, don't no, I'm notgoing any faster.
But I got to the city and I hadtexted Talia the day before,
and I was like, hey, like I'llbe there tomorrow.
Would you be able to help me,you know, unpack my truck?
Because I was coming fromAtlanta, Yaz was coming from
Ohio, and Talia was coming fromshe was already in the city, and
(23:23):
so she like came and that'swhen I first met her in person,
and she helped me unpack thetruck, and then we drove to the
airport to drop the truck off,and then got an Uber back.
And I was so fucking happy tobe out of that fuck ass truck.
Like, I never want to drive atruck like that ever again.
One and done for me.
Don't want to drive a trucklike that again, and never want
(23:44):
to drive in New York City againbecause it was just all chaotic.
But I remember like we cameback to the apartment, and then
a little bit later, you know,Yaz was flying from Ohio, so she
came and we all got alongreally well instantly, so that
was great.
I didn't feel like I had toworry about you know who I was
living with, but again, I stilldidn't have a job, and so now
I'm like in the city, and so I'mable to meet families in person
(24:09):
and and talk about knitting anddifferent things like that, but
it still wasn't going verywell.
Like, I had lived here for Ithink two weeks at that time,
and I know like in hindsight,two weeks isn't really a lot of
time, but for me, I was like, II need to work, like I was
starting to get very bored, Ididn't really have much to do,
(24:30):
and so I was like, Oh, I need towork, and so I started working
at this daycare, which was okay.
I I wanted to nanny becauseobviously with nannying, it's
much more lucrative, and likeworking in the daycare was fine,
but I was like, I'm not gonnabe able to do this for a long
time and sustain myself.
Do you know what I mean?
Like, I needed something thatwas offering me more, but for
(24:53):
the time being, like, it wasokay.
The lady who ran the daycarewas a little, a little wonky,
she was a little interesting,but I was like, hey, a job's a
job at this point, like I justneeded to work, and so as I was
working at this daycare, I wasin like Facebook groups of like
you know, looking for nanny jobsand also applying to like nanny
agencies and things like that.
(25:14):
And so I had just posted, like,hey, like if anybody needs like
a babysitter or something, likelet me know, like I'm free to
babysit on the weekends orwhatever.
And this one family reached outto me, and so I started
babysitting for them, and theneventually, like, they were
like, Hey, we have these friendswho need a nanny.
Do you mind if I give them, youknow, your information?
(25:34):
And I was like, Absolutely,like, that's what I want to do.
And that's how I ended upfinding my nanny job.
Like, it didn't work throughthe Facebook groups, the nanny
agencies didn't help.
It was literally just like wordof mouth.
Um, and so I interviewed withthe nanny family that I'm I'm
with them now.
I've been with them since Imoved here.
Like, I started working withthem a month after I moved to
(25:55):
the city, which has been great.
I've been able to experience somany things, like with the
family that I nanny with, andit's a great family, and I've
gotten to travel with them andexperience things that I've I've
just like never experiencedbefore with working with them.
And I understand that all ofthis was a very long story, but
the the point that I'm trying tomake is that I wouldn't be in
(26:15):
this city that I absolutelylove.
Moving to New York City was thebest thing that I could have
done for myself in this amazingcity, working for this family,
getting to experience all ofthese things because I took a
chance on myself, because I tooka leap of faith and I said, you
know what, I don't have it allfigured out, but I'll figure it
out once I get there.
(26:36):
And I think that has beensomething that has been always
been kind of difficult for mebecause I'm a very like, okay, I
need to know how this thing isgonna work out.
I need to know all of thesteps.
But with moving to New YorkCity, like I didn't have
everything figured out, and Iwas just like, you know what,
I'll figure it out once I getthere.
And it has been the mostlife-changing thing for me
(26:57):
because I've done so many thingsthat I've wanted to do since
moving here.
I've started my podcast, I'vestarted, you know, posting other
content and doing contentcreation, and I just feel like,
especially as black women, we'renot always encouraged to really
take chances on ourselves or todo something unless we have
everything figured out, and likethat's really just no way to
(27:19):
live life.
Like, you can't plan everysingle thing.
Obviously, I'm not saying tojust like go out there and move
to a whole nother country orcity or whatever with no, like,
obviously, I moved here and Ihad you know a little bit of
savings and you know things tofall back on, but I did not have
everything figured out, andthat's okay.
Like, we can do that, like wecan live life without having to
(27:42):
try and to to figure out everysingle thing or have every
little detail figured out, everyI dotted, every T cross, like
the fear of not knowing whatcould happen.
I feel like, at least for mepersonally, has held me back a
lot in my life.
And with moving to New YorkCity, I'm so grateful for it
(28:03):
because it's really allowed meto step outside of my comfort
zone and do things that I'vealways wanted to do and just
figure it out.
Like, we don't have to haveeverything figured out from the
beginning, we can just figurethings out as we go, and so I'm
so grateful to you know, mynanny kid in Atlanta.
I'm so grateful to her mombecause like without her words
(28:25):
of encouragement, I don't evenknow that I would have even
taken the chance on myself.
But I'm really happy that shegave me those words of
encouragement, and I'm so happythat I listened to them and and
took that chance because now I'min New York City and I feel
like this is really where I'msupposed to be.
Like, I've moved it around alittle bit in my life, like
Pennsylvania, Atlanta, and nowNew York City, and I I swear New
(28:47):
York City truly is it's myvibe, it just fits me, and I
feel like I can be both sides ofmyself.
Like, if I need to be like moreintroverted and stay at home, I
can do that.
If I want to go explore and dosomething in the city, I can do
that because there's alwayssomething going on.
And again, I would not know anyof this if I did not take that
(29:09):
chance on myself, and so I justwanted to encourage anyone who
might be listening.
If you were looking for a signto take a chance on yourself or
to take a leap of faith or dosomething like this is it, this
is it.
You do not have to haveeverything figured out, you can
figure it out once you getthere, and it could be it could
be the best decision that you'veever made in your life.
(29:31):
I truly feel like moving to NewYork City was the best thing
that I could do for myself, andI'm so grateful that I pushed
myself and that I was given thepush by my nanny kid's mom to
just do the thing that I wantedto do, and so I wanted to do
that for you guys today and justencourage you that if there's
something that you've beenthinking about and you've been
(29:52):
trying to weigh the options ofif you should do it or if you
shouldn't do it, this is yoursign to do it.
Now, obviously.
Take this with a grain of salt,okay?
And also, like, there arethings that you have to do to
follow, you know, maybe thething that you're thinking
about.
So do do the thing logically,whatever it is that you might be
(30:13):
thinking about, do that thinglogically, but also just realize
like you don't have to haveevery single step figured out.
There are things that you canfigure out once you take that
chance, make that move, takethat step.
You know what I mean?
Again, thank you all for beinghere.
I'm so so grateful for all ofyou.
We're making moves.
Oh, RIP to the brick wall.
(30:34):
I'm actually so sad.
I really love this exposedbrick.
When I first seen it, I wasjust like, I don't know how I
feel about that, but I've reallyenjoyed this exposed brick.
It's just like it's just itadds just a an element of life
to the apartment.
I don't know, but my newapartment unfortunately doesn't
have any exposed brick.
So if you're a visual watcher,this is the last time we'll see
(30:59):
the exposed brick.
I'm really sad about it.
It's really bittersweet becausethis is the apartment that I
decided to follow my dreams anddo the things that I've always
wanted to do.
So I have like an emotionalconnection to it, but also I
can't wait to get the fuck outof this apartment because the
management in this apartment isfucking ass.
Bittersweet, but I'm reallyexcited for you know the changes
and the moves, and I'm so sograteful for you all being here.
(31:22):
And I just wanted to encourageanyone, if anyone needed a sign,
to bet on themselves, take aleap of faith, do that thing
that you may have always beenwanting to do.
This is your sign because younever know what could happen
when you bet on yourself.
It could be the mostlife-changing thing that you've
ever done.
Thank you so much for tuning into today's episode.
I hope everyone's having a goodweek, except for that orange
(31:42):
jig lady.
And I will talk to you in thenext episode.
Peace and love.
Talk to you later.
The napkin in between, hostedby Daijne Jones, produced by
Daijne Jones, post production byDaijne Jones, music by Sam
Champagne, and graphics by IsmaVidal.
Don't forget to like andsubscribe.
See you next episode.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.