How the Healing Trip started

Hey Hey and welcome back to Life With Lee Blogging edition.

Since I've been inactive on my website I decided to use this healing trip to relaunch it with consistent content and what better time than now! Also, I wanted to use it as journal and to share it with you all. If you follow me on my instagram, where you probably seen the link, then you'll get a glimpse of the trip & my thoughts, BUT if you wanted a bit more than a caption and photo or two, HERE WE GO!!

The Healing Trip started with a friend who was going through a tough time, due to the pandemic and other personal things. I mentioned they needed to get out of their current atmosphere from all the build up of stress and anxiety. He mentioned a group of us could do a West coast to MidWest road trip and I thought the idea was great, but we wanted to keep Covid-19 & finances in mind for obvious reasons. So we decided to do some camping, hostiles, and A LOT of things I've NEVER done before. Lol, Yes I was nervous as HECK, but wanted to be the light that I am for my friend as it's tough and difficult times for all of us!

We agreed and I thought well lets make it a healing trip for all of us. A trip to reset, fresh air and thoughts, humility, fresh perspectives, and more. For personal reasons I will not speak on my friends' individual perspectives and thoughts, but I will use these daily blogs to share my healing process throughout this journey because I believe it will bless you as it is blessings us!

Side Note: Some days will be delayed due to no service, so expect a blog post around of the day prior. (I'll post a IG story if something changes).

Here is the link to day 1: https://www.lifewithlee.com/post/day-1-recognizing-reflecting

4 things I’ve learned in NYC

Here is a list of four important things I've learned in four years of living in the City.

Budgeting, Hustling, Networking, and Rest days (in no specific order).

1. The importance of a budget

I moved to NYC with about 1200 saved, thinking I was going to do much with it, smh, I learned QUICKLY that it was considered “change”. It lasted me about two months before I had to figure out where I was going to get more money to move in to a place, pay rent consistently, and well survive long enough to live. I moved in November booked a tv show and worked Kayne West’s Spring Fashion week show before I learned that acting and modeling jobs come here in there, until you “make it big”. SOOO I prayed and fasted for my next wave of finances and thats how I got into Production, the behind the scenes of creating what I wanted to be on the screen doing.

You can live in NYC without being a billionaire, but it’s all in how you budget. Going out? Who? Not me! Eating out? How? Taking Ubers? Well the train is $5.50 to and from. You truly learn the value of money and why a dollar slice becomes your best friend.

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2. The reality of hustling

Man oh man! I thought I was a hustler back in Florida, but NY taught me a new level of hustling

1. The price is twice as expense for living (space and travel). Thankfully I don’t have a car to pay all those extra expenses, but our unreliable transit alone has went up in the last 4 years alone.

2. Everyone is going after the same job, I learned what sets me apart from all of the other competition thats waiting for the same opportunity you are. Spend time with yourself and figure out what YOU bring to the table and the skills you have to offer.

3. There are many possible ways to make it to where you want to go in life, you just have to figure out which routes help lead you there without getting off track. I’ve learned to find jobs within my field that paid less then what I was used to just to pay for my responsibilities, talk about a humbling process.

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3. The importance of networking

Everyone you meet is a possible new friend, client, or someone who will lead you to you next opportunity. Never doubt who people are or who they know.

I’ve met many people on sets or at events that led to my next gig. When you hear “it’s all about who you know” thats COMPLETELY true. Even if its only God that you know. Be genuine and don’t be closed minded.

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4. Rest days

MY FAVORITE DAY TO SPEAK ABOUT!

Living in New York City boy oh boy, everything and everyone seems to ALWAYS be on the go. You have to learn and trust that you aren’t going to miss out on something if you take a complete rest day. Depending on bookings for the week, I usually have 2-3 days off and I take one day COMPLETELY off where I do whatever I want however I want. Sleep in late, wake up eat, then go back to sleep, or write blogs, which give me joy.

The other two days are like half rest days. I still get up by 6-7am check emails, workout, grocery shop, laundry etc. Even though that seems easy it still takes away from time with yourself. You’re basically spending your days off preparing for the days of work which isn’t a complete rest and regroup day. So as best as you can incorporate a complete rest day TRY IT and it’ll change your life and restore your mind, body, spirit, and soul

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I thought I’d be in NY for one year, but God clearly had other plans. Four years later I feel like I just got here and don’t see me leaving anytime soon.

I hope this helps you on your journey to wherever you are or decide to go.

'Life With Lee'

“If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!”

4 year Anniversary

As I celebrate 4 years of moving to NYC, I wanted to share some images throughout my journey. They aren’t in any specific order just a flip through of some major moments in my life, people I’ve met, and places I’ve been to.

The main thing I want to share in posting this anniversary, is to NOT DOUBT the feeling God is or has given you about your purpose. Wether it’s a move, job change, hairstyle, family ANYTHING you have to take the leap of faith and trust Him. If I were to listen to the people closest to me, I wouldn’t be where I am nor happy. I probably would’ve still been successful but ALWAYS wondering “WHAT IF” and that’s a feeling I don’t want to live with. I desire to live my true self throughout this lifetime and I hope you do too! -Enjoy Lee.