I've discovered that New York is the perfect embodiment of life itself. Like life, the city will pounce on you like a wild animal, and the concrete jungle is unpredictable and completely untamable. It's all you can do to be ready when the subways are shut down, or not have a meltdown when you almost get run over by a cab. New Yorkers are constantly on the go, and yes, they are rude for this reason. The whole city is dirty, there's no order anywhere...

This is what people seem to believe anyway. They ask me: "Why New York? How can you live in such a scary, dirty place?" The answer is this: whether you like it or not, this city will seduce you so quickly it's almost unnerving. It will turn you inside out so you can see yourself for who you are, and it will help you find yourself in a decidedly shrinking world. Not without chewing you up and spitting you back out, but nothing will expose you to yourself better than an hour in New York, and I've made that connection with myself that seemed to be missing.

I believe some people are born to not only love the urban life, but New York City as its own entity. Some people are just meant to belong here, as if someone is up there dividing up all the prospective souls to be placed on Earth based on where they're meant to end up.

As aggressive as it can be, the city is beautifully poetic all on its own; there's always the lingering chance (or hope) you'll bump into the love of your life when turning the corner, or even something as small as someone giving up their seat for you on the subway, because clearly, your day has been hellish. When you've reached the end of your rope with New York, it will always find a way to draw you back into its waiting arms, just like a bad habit.

There's a quality to it that can't be explained and can't be described. You're seduced by the history and culture and before you know it, navigating the streets and avenues is as easy as breathing. You can feel the history beneath your feet, and you're reminded of the legendary people that came before you. The greatest writers and artists can't seem to find the word to sum up New York, and maybe it's because there isn't a word. New York is New York, take it or leave it. If you don't fall in love with it within the first five minutes, you never will.