opening up to life with crest & oral-b

The move, which I've been dreading and simultaneously anticipating, happened this past weekend.  I wasn't sure the day would ever arrive, but indeed it did, accompanied by 4 burly movers and an over-sized truck, which hauled away our things to another neighborhood... a mere 157 blocks uptown.  As I amble my 7 months pregnant self through countless boxes, some unpacked and some piled to the ceiling, it's impossible not to reflect on how far I've come and grown from the girl who arrived on a one-way ticket to NYC 11 years ago.

I came here in late August 2000, 22 years old and fresh out of college.  Despite crying all the way to the airport, I knew in my heart that I was making the right decision -- I had to at least see if I could manage on my own in this great metropolis.  To say I was "green behind the ears" was an understatement, although the month's internship I'd had here during my senior year of college did ease the transition a bit, thankfully.

In a way, I needed this change desperately.  While I dearly loved my family and friends at home, I must admit I felt a bit out of place - particularly before college.  In the small town I grew up in, a heavy dose of "sameness" hung in the air -- almost as thick as the humidity. To me, everyone dressed the same, had the same political and religious affiliations usually and followed similar paths -- a path I could see myself going down if I stayed put.  Instead, I craved individuality; I wanted to walk amongst people of differing cultures, speaking languages I didn't understand and following a path that might not have been originally how they set out.  There was something very exciting about getting lost in this melting pot, yet still being able to carve out a life for myself at the same time.

And I have. I took a pretty significant leap of faith when I moved to New York City, and fortunately for me, most things have gone according to plan. Eleven years later, I have wonderful friends, including a few I met within my first weeks of living here. I've had experiences and been given opportunities here that would be impossible to replicate anywhere else. I met and married a pretty remarkable man and we have a growing family together... and the best part is that I have done it all in a place I truly love.  A place I dreamed about living as a young girl, when it felt completely and utterly out of reach.

As we make our mark on a new neighborhood, still unfamiliar and exciting in that way, there is comfort knowing I'm not alone this time -- my family and I are doing this together.  But there is also immense satisfaction when I look back on everything it took to get here on my own.

When I took a chance and opened up.


Sunset view from our new apt rooftop

Your mouth is more than just teeth and gums, it's your most important feature when it comes to expressing yourself and engaging with the world. The Crest & Oral-B Life Opens Up Project will highlight individual stories that showcase how a healthy mouth has played a role in opening up to life and to the world. Check out the Life Opens Up Project for more details.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Crest & Oral-B via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Crest & Oral-B.