Wednesday
Jun252008
Getting Kicked In The Butt
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 09:31AM
A very close friend (read: ex-boyfriend) emailed me last night out of the blue. I hadn't heard from him for a while and I think it is safe to say he doesn't really follow my career very closely but he sent me an unsolicited email of encouragement at a time when I really needed it. He reminded me of a saying that he and I used to find comforting. It was so perfectly timed that I thought I would share it with you. Brace yourself for these words of wisdom:
I've had a rough few days re-assimilating to New York after a blissful week in San Francisco. I caught a cold on Sunday morning, my flight back was slightly delayed, I was missing my family and friends, and my doorman scared me with a tale of two women getting mugged at gunpoint right in front of my building on Monday. I was feeling displaced and alone when this email came along. It was exactly what I needed to hear in order to remind myself that I moved here for a reason. I am making sacrifices for a reason. I am lucky to be able to do the job that I do every day and I have to allow myself those occasional "I'm doing it!" moments.
The kicked-in-the-butt saying does not necessarily mean that I want to be better than everyone else by being in the front. On the contrary, I don't navigate my career by comparing myself to other people. I just want to be the very best that I can be. Then again, I don't always want to live my life getting kicked in the butt. I am in transition right now, learning how to be successful while keeping a balance in my life that keeps me from going insane. I'll find my way. In the meantime, I must focus on kicking some figurative butt of my own and by that, I mean the butt of the Big Apple.
If you're getting kicked in the butt, at least it means you're in the front.
I've had a rough few days re-assimilating to New York after a blissful week in San Francisco. I caught a cold on Sunday morning, my flight back was slightly delayed, I was missing my family and friends, and my doorman scared me with a tale of two women getting mugged at gunpoint right in front of my building on Monday. I was feeling displaced and alone when this email came along. It was exactly what I needed to hear in order to remind myself that I moved here for a reason. I am making sacrifices for a reason. I am lucky to be able to do the job that I do every day and I have to allow myself those occasional "I'm doing it!" moments.
The kicked-in-the-butt saying does not necessarily mean that I want to be better than everyone else by being in the front. On the contrary, I don't navigate my career by comparing myself to other people. I just want to be the very best that I can be. Then again, I don't always want to live my life getting kicked in the butt. I am in transition right now, learning how to be successful while keeping a balance in my life that keeps me from going insane. I'll find my way. In the meantime, I must focus on kicking some figurative butt of my own and by that, I mean the butt of the Big Apple.
Reader Comments (41)
Ah Natali,
Please don't feel down. I was recently in the same situation: strange new city, strange new people and a boring University course so I know being homesick sucks. But would you rather live in a place with a Google map of murders? (SFGate: http://www.sfgate.com/maps/sfhomicides/)
You have a lot to be proud of. C'mon, short of me robbing a bank, you've been on CBS news more time that I'll ever be!
I knew from an early age that I would be a lifelong New Yorker and that my career would be fashioned as best as it could so I could live my life with all the challenges, heartache, and triumphs of living in the center of the world. It is the one city where people will simultaneously help you and compete with you in order to be seen as the best of the best. You might start your day having to let two subways go by because they are way overcrowded, but then in the same day you might be a part of the final concert of THE POLICE because they couldn't have an impact anywhere else in this world. One only need to go to events like the New York Philharmonic in Central Park to be reminded that good friends and relationships can be created despite the odds and disparate groups of people can bond at a single event. Having the journey be an occasional struggle will only make the victories seem that much sweeter.
"Life is hell but when walking through hell it's best to just keep moving forward and enjoy the parts that aren't as hot."
a quote from a family member of mine.
I know exactly how you feel, just have moved to NYC myself. This city can kick you in a lot of places. It is big, mean, and relentlessness. I too also moved for a job. The subways, the people, and the city all are different. All I do is remind myself, as do you, why I am here, why I moved my family here. In the end it makes you a better and stronger person. Good luck to you!
I know exactly how you feel, just have moved to NYC myself. This city can kick you in a lot of places. It is big, mean, and relentlessness. I too also moved for a job. The subways, the people, and the city all are different. All I do is remind myself, as do you, why I am here, why I moved my family here. In the end it makes you a better and stronger person. Good luck to you!
Hi Natali, for whatever it's worth, I lived in new york city for a couple years and like you, was a bay area transplant. I ended up moving back to california to go to school but would prolly move back to nyc in one of its minutes. :-)
I have admired you in your moments of professionalism and grace in the short time I have seen you since joining CNET. I have gained a greater respect for you through the humanity that you have shown through your blog and this post. I wish you the best and will send positive thoughts that you continue to feel better your way.
Every once in a while, you have to take a breath and appreciate all you have accomplished... while not losing sight of the next goal you have to reach.
Stay on offense, and attack, attack, attack... until you have kicked the Big Apple's butt and have nothing left to say, other than...
What's Next
It's a known fact that with all the technology available today, it doesn't matter where you live. But it does to me....Hurry and Come home!!!!
Lovya Mom-Bear
I don't have to add any more encouraging words since you already have gotten many positive responses from scores of viewers & your mom!. But I will just say this. Your present "self" is the product of all the experiences & decisions you have taken so far. And looks like it worked out pretty good so far, don't you think? :-)
You are an excellent technology journalist that hundreds love to hear & watch. A person with real stuff in the mind. A familiar tech media face that most can easily recognize. Have a loving mom who reads your blogs and responds to them. Last but not the least you have number of people who read your blogs and respond to, whether its tech related or not. :-) That's genuine affection from people. Not everybody can get that.
So, to sum it up, whatever decisions you have taken till now have landed you in good shape and that includes your decision to come to NY. We see & hear things all the time. All kinds of things. Good, bad, and the ugly. But there is always something that keeps us going. Something that motives us. That's our inner strength. You have abundance of it. May be you have plans to eventually move to Cali. But whatever your plans are, you will be successful in every walk of your life, no matter where you work and live. That’s because your inner strength will always be with you no matter where you go. You have hundreds of well-wishers and a good family. So you go girl. Continue your best work. Be yourself.
-Trivi.
Life is a learning experience,we learn from our mistakes and i triumphs,which in the end makes us better people.
Robert
Keep up the good work! Even though your far away, remember, we are at an age of TECH, I'm sure a phone call or even a web cam with your family will cheer you up ;) Things will be fine =)
[...] fast enough for me to adjust. I appreciate all the nice comments from last week’s blog about getting kicked in the butt. There is still butt kicking going on in my life but I think I’m less on the receiving end [...]
Um, You were the only one to kick butt on that Fox Show that attempts to be funny!
Keep it up!
Ill be sure to add this blog to my bookmarks :)
Natali-
You are trully the best inspiration for myself and others like me about to graduate and head out into the working world. To follow you and see how you handle the bumps in the road that had never occured to me and to see how you handle everything with such grace and professionalism inspires me to be strong as I face a roadblock similar to yours. Juggling several commitments and (oh yeah) a personal life is the hardest thing a professional woman can endure if you ask me. It's worth it and you are raising the bar for the rest of us. I'm sure I will be a long time fan of yours.
Natalie, there is something very special in just looking at you. I wish you the best this year. Take care Marcelo