Despite the Circumstances, Give Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving 2023

It is Thursday, November 23, 2023. It is also Thanksgiving Day! As I shared in my most recent TikTok post, there’s just so much to be thankful for. But let’s backtrack a bit. The last time I posted was earlier this year; I was still living in New York City at the time, and a lot has happened since. I went to Europe for the first time and checked off bucket list items such as a flying dress shoot in Santorini, Greece. But more on that later. I was able to appreciate the lifestyles and perspectives of people in other parts of the world for which I am beyond grateful. There is still so much for me to see and behold, and a new goal of mine is to visit at least one new country every year while I can. I have accepted that the ability to pursue joys such as self-exploration lies in my own hands. Thus, I will take advantage of meaningful opportunities as long as I am able to.

And, earlier this year, I officially got “doctored;” something that I have been working towards for the past few years. Ahh, a lot to sink in. I placed no limits on self-actualization as I walked in my purpose and lived in my truth. 

I know that it was also time for me to leave New York City, the place that I had called home for the past 2 decades. I also did not want to be too far (within a 2.5 hr. drive tops), and I wanted somewhere that still had a city vibe. Indeed, it would be a huge challenge for me to transition from city life to sheer suburbia. Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, checked all the boxes. It is what my soul needed all these years, or so I thought. In July of 2023, I purged, packed my belongings, and headed to Philly. Prior to officially moving, I had only visited once, two months earlier, to secure an apartment. I remember falling in love with the first complex I saw – the neighborhood could not have been more perfect: quiet, idyllic, and easily accessible to everything I needed. I prayed and manifested an apartment at that development and I’m here to say that my prayer was answered.

Be careful of what you pray for. 

I moved into my new space, my new “home,” and officially slept there for the first time on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Except that, I could not really sleep. As it turns out, my unit was completely uninhabitable. I remember it being 1:13 am in the morning and it was totally impossible for me to fall asleep. I could hear everything on my neighbor’s television which, unfortunately, had invaded and permeated my living space. This cannot be okay, I thought. I am no stranger to apartment living and in fact, I lived in my previous New York City apartment for nearly 10 years. But at the very least, I think that one is entitled to some semblance of “peace and quiet” in a space that they’re occupying and paying for. Sadly, this was not the case in my new home in Philly. As it turns out, my building was structurally inferior and lacked any kind of soundproofing or insulation against noise.

Totally tormented and unable to sleep after a full day of unpacking and organizing, I pondered my next move. I decided that I would not wait until the morning to contact my landlord, so I sent him an email at 1 am in the morning informing him of the challenge of falling asleep. After pocketing my rental deposits, you would think that this person would at the very least respond to my concern during the next business day. You would think that he at least gave a s****. Of course, he ignored and totally disregarded my email, so I knew it was an uphill battle from there on. By the Thursday of that same week, I contacted several attorneys, all of whom gave me great advice. Indeed, I was not here to play. 

One advised me to use a “noise machine” which was one way of canceling the excessive noise, but I firmly believe that I should not have to deal with that level of inconvenience in a space that I am paying for. Another attorney explained that the landlord had breached the warrant of habitability, and he offered to write a lease termination letter on my behalf. While I thought this was a great option, it may not have worked because it would have required me to find a new place, sign another lease, and go through the relocation process again in a short time frame. My schedule would not have allowed it at the time. 

So, I passed on this option and decided to see how much longer I could occupy the space. Needless to say, it was not for long. I had many sleepless nights, and nights where I had to sleep on my couch (including last night), all while owning a bed. There were times I felt like I was living atop a nightclub, as I had neighbors that would blast loud music all throughout the night. Unfortunately, there was no way of telling this prior to occupying the space. 

Perhaps my worst experience was times when I was actually able to fall asleep and then suddenly get awakened by excessive noise from neighboring apartments. I knew that for my own mental health and sanity, there was no way I could survive much longer in this space.

With the research I have done since relocating in July, along with the legal advice I received, I sent my landlord a lease termination letter. Prior to sending the letter, I provided documentary evidence of the noise disturbance and gave him enough time to remedy the problem. There were no changes. In addition, it would turn out that my landlord was fraudulently billing me for some of the utilities. I also apprised him of this in the lease termination letter. AND I was done. I would love to see a court of law penalize me for my refusal to honor a contractual agreement with someone who has been defrauding me along with his other tenants. I am here to see it.

There you have it. Be careful of what you wish for. All that glitters is certainly not gold. 

My search for another apartment is a story for another blog post. I remember saying “Lord, you did not bring me all the way here from New York to leave me stranded.” With both fear and uncertainty, I started my search. Sometimes you never know what to expect. Indeed, after sending my lease termination letter, my prideful self would not allow me to stay a day past the end date I gave my landlord. Luckily, the market here in Philly seems to be a renter’s market, in terms of options, unlike New York City. 

After some searching and quite a few tours, I was able to find a place that met my requirements and is interestingly only a mile away from my current location. This will surely pay off on moving day. When I submitted this particular application, I remember being notified the very next day that I was approved. 

It could be due in part to elements of my application such as my creditworthiness that I have worked on for the past years. But that is a story for another post. 

Before the end of the year, I will have moved into my new home. So, without life’s tests, I don’t have all these testimonies. Moving twice in a year is not for the faint of heart. It is draining and it is taxing. But what is reassuring is that God has given me the strength to face these difficult and challenging undertakings, so there is much to give thanks for despite the circumstances. 

Happy Thanksgiving!