According to “The Secret” we are to visualize, take actions, and believe in order for our dreams to come true. Most of us do this, whether it’s according to “The Secret” or subconsciously, listening to our inner voices and beliefs. The law of attraction is simple and works for a lot of people. What is tricky about going after our dreams and continuing to believe, as we go through obstacles and challenges in our lives, is the timing part. Time is tricky. And it’s complicated. What’s so incredibly challenging is hanging onto our beliefs when things are simply not going forward. But once it does – it feels simple. Dreams do come true. Our dream of living in New York is here now after years of planning, wishing, visualizing, taking action, believing, praying, chanting, meditating, asking, screaming and yelling in the car (frustration shouldn’t be suppressed, right? – if you’re frustrated, yell and scream in your CAR – No one deserves to hear that).

After driving across America – after witnessing five hundred Harleys (due to the Sturgis Annual Bike Rally), three hundred casinos housed in shacks, two hundred adult clubs, three girls sunbathing in an Albertson’s parking lot, two Adult Superstores, one bus that said “Making Jesus Known” full of children, a fortune teller-like bungalow decorated with chimes and blankets that offered “financial planning”, and a business that offered custom slaughtering, we made it through the Holland Tunnel and into Manhattan. On our way here, we passed towns where we felt uncomfortable, and when I say uncomfortable, I mean scared.  My husband who’s very affectionate didn’t even hold my hand in Luverne, Minnesota (where we were probably considered to be “interracial”). We were hungry and contemplated using a restroom there. Once we felt the energy and saw eyes after eyes staring at us hatefully we drove out of there as fast as our Uhaul took us – leaving skid marks on the road.

Here we are in our new home – our beautiful apartment in New York City. The apartment has not only more square footage than is in our Seattle townhouse, but it has a terrace that is so big that on it you can dance around (in Oscar de la Renta silk faille cocktail dress paired with Jil Sander cropped jacket) and host a cocktail party. It’s hard to actually catch up with all this – but after years of dreaming, asking, taking actions, yelling (and yet believing that one day we would live in NYC), we are here. Living in the best city in the world (according to me). Dreams do come true.

After moving into our new home followed by running errands (getting towels, sheets and other basics at Bed, Bath and Beyond – so much beyond there. That store is huge in Chelsea – I mean!), we sat down for a late lunch nearby, at Gascogne. It’s a delicious French restaurant that we stumbled upon and fell in love with. There we didn’t just feel comfortable, but at ease and happy, and when we spotted a gay “interracial” couple walk by, we felt at home. New York is a city where people are who they and celebrate it – all of it. It’s a place where people not only have dreams – they believe in them and aren’t afraid to hustle their way through life to get there.

And so here we are. And when people say that it’s not the destination that matters it’s the journey – they’re lying. It’s the destination that is the heart. It’s the destination of the place you choose. The destination IS the golden fruit, and in our case, it’s the golden apple.

XO, Anna Rosa