NYC 2026 - Week 1

GREETINGS FROM NEW YORK CITY!

It’s day 7 and I’m still not fully grasping that I’ve started a three-month adventure. But guys, IIIIIIIIeeeeh! It’s really happening!!!

This trip is my third time visiting, and I have a few intentions for coming here again. First of all, I want to get to know the city even better. I want to descend into another layer of what it really means to be a New Yorker. The mystery of this city will most likely stay a mystery, but I feel ready to adopt a few of its traits so I can grow even more into the woman I aspire to be, living the life I want to lead.

Secondly, I intend to leave behind the perfectionist in me. It is a big part of me: trying to figure out the perfect way to do something, making sure I don’t make mistakes, and acting picture-perfect for the outside world. In a way, I’m pleasing expectations I only think the world has of me. While in the end, it is only my own critical voice that needs to be silenced. By letting go of this perfectionism, I’m sure I will experience more playfulness, be less socially anxious, and find more bravery to show my full self to the world.

That is why: a weekly newsletter. I will be my authentic self, sharing the stories that touched me, stuck with me, and transformed me. I wish to share these with you to have a small support group at home. I’m super grateful for this; it really gives me the fuel to put on my ‘badass shoes’ and just go for it. So, thank you for allowing this mail to find you. Every Friday morning, you’ll find me in your mailbox. If you feel like responding, you most definitely can! I’m here to start a conversation. If you feel like this mail could be of service to someone you know, please don’t hesitate to forward it.

And now, let’s dive in. Enjoy!

SPONTANEOUS SUNDA(Y)-TE

At home, with the trip approaching, I felt so much stress trying to get everything in order. So many things were out of my control that could have messed up my arrival and my stay. On the other hand, there were a lot of things within my control to tick off my to-do list. That stress and the feeling of being ‘on’ all the time has slowly started leaving my body. On Sunday, I finally found my holiday mood and went wherever my gut wanted to take me. One of my favorite things to do is visit different coffee shops and soak up the vibes while sipping a chai latte (with almond milk).

After sitting for a bit, indulging in a good book (about a thirty-something woman from New York), a charming-looking guy sat down across from me. People here are very sociable, and starting a conversation can happen as easily as asking: ‘Is this seat taken?’. Hungry for conversation, I engaged by asking more about him. He was wearing an arm brace, which was an easy way in. Within 30 minutes, we knew which part of the world we came from, where we were currently living, what our week had looked like so far, and that neither of us had any further plans for that Sunday afternoon. So, of course, we decided to grab some food together.

We took the train to the East Village and found an all-you-can-eat sushi place where we could order food for two hours. After we were seated, I asked him his age. "25," he said. "So, how about you?" he asked. "I’m 34," I replied. You should’ve seen the look on his face. Poor boy, he was a bit disappointed! Haha. I steered the conversation in a different direction, and eventually, we said goodbye at 10 in the evening.

This kind of connection was incredibly nice to experience: being curious about another person, finding common interests and thought patterns, and simply enjoying being out in the city. Not bad for day three of my adventure!

BE REAL

Settling into the Airbnb was less romantic than anticipated. The room didn’t look like the photos the host had listed. The furniture was different: different curtains, a different bed, no small sofa, and a half-broken desk. On top of that, the walls weren’t white anymore. It seemed like the room hadn’t been cleaned in years. I'm not sure how people lived there, but it certainly was not up to my Belgian/European standards.

The first night, I didn’t seem to mind. I was still landing, and my body felt strange after eight and a half hours of flying back in time. But in the morning, my mind concluded: this is not the room I booked and paid for. 2024 Numi would’ve just ignored this entirely. 2026 Numi wasn’t going to let this pass. I took pictures of the place, contacted Airbnb, and got confirmation that this wasn’t okay. (Because yes, I was still doubting myself in some way.) The support I received was validating, and they said I could rightfully ask for a partial refund. Next step: contacting the host.

Unfortunately, it felt like there was a complete denial of all the points I noted, which made me incredibly frustrated. Something in me snapped; it felt like I was being treated unfairly. I had two options: staying or leaving. But, my friends, know this: if you decide to leave mid-booking, you will NOT be refunded.

Fortunately, I had a lifeline to help me get into the NY state of mind: a friend who has lived in the city her entire life. She knows how things work here and how to put things in perspective. She agreed: this wasn’t right. I’d been scammed. But the positives, by New York standards, also had to be taken into account: the room is spacious, there is daylight, it’s quiet, and the area is exactly where I want to be.

My ego wanted to receive that partial refund, but my inner peace wanted to feel safe and welcome too. I had to do something I didn’t entirely know how to do: compromise. Normally, I would go for "the win" so I could feel strong and not taken advantage of. This time, I’m so grateful I chose peace over victory.

As the host is unemployed at the moment and is supporting a teenager, I chose to be understanding of her not being able to pay me back. I looked for other ways she could help me overcome this obstacle, and I’m happy to say we found a middle ground. This might seem like a very normal thing to do, but to me, it was a great lesson. I learned not to take it personally, but to be strategic. And as soon as this was settled, I could really start to enjoy this place and my trip.

To end this letter in a whim:

I’m rediscovering my love for textures and structures. I'm giving myself playtime with my camera, looking for interesting visuals, and feeling inspired to translate these into my embroidery. I won’t be in ‘work’ or ‘focus’ mode for a few days. It’s so important for me to find ‘play’ again—to be less disciplined, to flow, and to let things come to me.

As a business owner and as a human, our energy is also a form of currency. My energy refills every time I cross a road and see the Big City I’m in, hearing my inner child make an inner, high-pitched squeal of happiness (‘iiiiiiii’). I’m so blessed; I’m so grateful.

LOVE YOU!

Naomi/Numi

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