A Reflection || My 4 Year Anniversary in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the city of dreamers.

Everyone wants to be here. Everyone wants to live here. Everyone wants to move here.

4 years ago today, that’s exactly what I did. It’s funny, though. Truth is, I didn’t move out here to “make it in L.A”. I’m a city girl from Tokyo and the size of L.A is nothing in comparison but Portland certainly wasn’t cutting it. I just needed a change. And some sun.

When I first moved here, I worked for a hospitality firm that, albeit a bitter separation, I’m still grateful towards. They gave me the opportunity to advance in my career. After my third promotion, I thought I had made it. I was young for the position I held and I held it well. The hospitality world was now my oyster. It looked fantastic on LinkedIn but laying there dying was my happiness and creativity.

4 years ago if a fortune teller on Venice Beach told me I would be a Travel Instagrammer & Blogger, I would have laughed, telling everyone about the money I wasted on such BS.

But here I am. Leaving the career I dedicated my life to and now being the creative person I used to be. And as much as I hate to say it, I partially have this city to thank. The hikes through Runyon Canyon, quirky art districts, the Malibu sunsets, 24 hour donut shops, top-down drives on PCH. There’s just something in the air in Los Angeles that’s forgiving and accepting of the creative process. Maybe it’s the bustling entertainment industry or it’s the laid-back vibe that makes it so. Whatever it is, I’m grateful.

Rambling aside, here’s a list of random things that happened in the past 4 years:

• Earned my Master’s from my dream school (Go Big Red!).
• Got my heart broken.
• Made new friends whom I adore.
• Broke someone’s heart.
• Got into my first major accident and had to get a new car.
• Visited my family more than I ever have.
• Made several mistakes.
• Started a business with friends (check it out!) and another in the works.
• Realized that sometimes, as hard as you try, it’s just not meant to be.
• Proudly watched my brother get through college and into the working world.
• Traveled more in the past year and a half than the 5 years before that combined.
• Watched the Red Wings in person more than I ever have since living in Detroit.
• I actually enjoy what I do; photography, writing, all the creativity.  

Well, L.A. This is the longest I’ve ever lived in one place after high school and to everyone’s surprise, I have no plans on leaving. I think year 5 is going to be an exciting one and I can’t wait for all of you to experience it with me.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I know it’s not the typical “travel post” but I enjoy reading other blogger’s personal posts a lot. It helps me get to know them as a person, not just a traveler and hoping this has the same effect.

If you live in the LA area, what’s your view of LA? Do you think it’s a place that cultivates creativity? If you’re not from LA, I would be curious how you view this city so let me know!