Is it time to move? Part II.

Griffin Sendek | WHN | 01/13/2023

Almost a year ago, after visiting Los Angles for the first time, I asked myself, "Is it time to move?” I’m happy to say I’ve got my answer.

Reading back at my old blog post, I see so much hesitation at the idea of moving across the country, and rightfully so, not something to do on a whim. I understand now that the uncertainty was coming more from how I “should feel” and less from what I really wanted. All I needed was a little taste of Los Angeles to know it would be my home one day.

I’d be lying if I said this move was entirely career motivated; my girlfriend lives in Los Angeles, and I can’t wait until we no longer have to be thousands of miles apart. Love is a substantial motivating factor in wanting to be there as soon as possible; she’s been able to show so much of what my life out there could be. Rest assured, I may be a hopeless romantic, but love is far from the first and only reason for wanting to move.

I think what scared me the most was what committing to moving across the country implied. It’s so easy to place LA on the “one-day” pedestal, as many do. But this a promise to myself I intend to keep. I wish I could just pack a single bag, book a one-way ticket, leave everything behind and start my new life. But getting there is a lot more complicated.

However, the benefits far outweigh whatever hassles and hardships uprooting my life and moving across the country might bring.

The opportunities I have in LA, the potential I have when it comes to my photography, filmmaking, directing, and journalism (I could go on) – are immense. But the point is every single one of my myriad of interests is catered to, and each element has so much more room to grow.

I feel like if I stay here in Pittsburgh, I will learn to sustain myself and nothing more.

Over the last year, I’ve felt this looming sense of stagnation meanwhile harboring this insatiable thirst for more; it’s clear to me now I will never be fulfilled staying in Pittsburgh. It’s time to move. LA is far from a perfect city, nor is it some creative utopia, but it’s something else, and I need something else.

I don’t just want to survive; I want to live; my last visit, those two weeks I spent there in august, were the most alive I’ve felt in a while.

There comes a time in our creative careers, no matter what it is, that we need to decide if we’re going to take a leap or play it safe and keep following the same path. There are no right or wrong answers along this fork in the road; both could lead to success or a complete disaster.

The path that leads to Los Angeles is unclear, but envisioning where life in Pittsburgh leads, I hate to say, but it scares me far more. This city has a lot to love about it, but the idea of getting stuck here unhappy, unfulfilled and unable to grow my career in the ways I want – it’s terrifying. Far scarier than having to deal with finding my way in a new city. I’m still young enough that I’m not anchored in too deep anywhere, but that might not always be the case.

Let me remind you that “safety” within all creative pursuits is always relative, if I genuinely wanted to play it safe, I would have stayed enrolled in the business school and not changed my major six years ago. I didn’t know what I wanted back then, and there’s still so much that I’m unsure about.

For the last several years, I feel as if I’ve just stumbled into everything, my college, my majors, my past relationships and my jobs. And I’ll admit the beginning of this journey, discovering LA included.

The stumbling has worked well for me, hell it might be one of my greatest assets, “slipping” into a Girlfriend’s DMs (a story for another time) is what sparked this desire for the west coast in the first place. But I’m done stumbling. There comes a time when I want to make conscious decisions for myself.

In theory, I understand Los Angeles won’t fix all my problems. But doesn’t it feel like it will? Won’t everything just be…better?

If you haven’t noticed, I don’t always take myself that seriously but I’m well aware of the risks involved. My mindset regarding the challenge of moving has changed very little since my original piece. I’m well aware I’ve got my work cut out for me, and everything is not just going to fall (or stumble) perfectly into place for me.

Wherever you go, there you are. Even if you pack light, most of that baggage still comes along for the ride. At the end of the day, I'm still me, flaws in all.

I came to you last year speaking about moving as a foolish 22-year-old with a camera; now I’m a foolish 23-year-old, still clutching to that camera – Only so much has changed. But hopefully, the next time I update you on my journey, I’ve left behind these gloomy overcast skies, and I’ll speak to you from Sunny southern California.

So Is it time to move? Yes, well, very soon. A year ago, I wasn’t so sure, but now I truly believe it will all work out for the best.