I know I’ve been pretty quiet for the past month or so, but I’ve been making changes of astronomical proportions: I’m excited to announce that I’m joining Weber Shandwick’s digital team in Chicago.

The two years I’ve lived in New York City have been a grand adventure: from working at award-winning mid-sized agencies, to learning the intricacies of the subway system, to celeb spotting at Heidi Klum’s Halloween party, to bar hopping in the east village, to concerts at the Williamsburg Waterfront and Central Park, to brunching with friends on the weekend, to seeing Broadway shows… the list goes on and on. I’ve made many good memories and friends here and I am sad to leave.

But even with the abundance of culture, art, music, food and people, there are some things NYC can’t provide me: it can’t make it any closer for my family and friends to visit, it can’t make it any more affordable to fly to Michigan more than twice a year and it can’t make up for the loneliness I feel from being so far away from the people I love.

New York is an extraordinary city — perhaps the greatest — and I highly suggest experiencing it at least once in your lifetime, but sometimes you need to reassess what you really want from life and decide what will truly make you happy.

For me right now, it’s being able to easily visit family and friends (or even better, them visiting me), the culture and diversity provided by big city living and having the support of a large digital team. I’m sure there will be other things I realize I need in order to be happy, and more changes that will be made down the line, but at this point in my life these things are a priority.

Although it breaks my heart to leave NYC, I’ve always had a special spot in my heart for Chicago. Many fond memories have been made in the Windy City, like visiting for the first time when I was three years old, running the Loyola Lakefront Cross Country Invitational every year when I was a student athlete, stuffing my face with Chicago-style pizza, rebuilding my relationship with my mother after a falling out and various weekend trips with friends during college.

Change, especially a lot of change at once, is hard no matter what. This was a very difficult decision to make, and it took a painful amount of thought, but in the end, I think it is the right decision and am excited for what lies ahead.

However, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this new opportunity without the love and support of my friends in Chicago, New York and Michigan. For them, I am truly grateful (you know who you are).

Until next time…