Drafting words about my relationship to New York City is intense. So many eras, so many people, so many stories. Timing in life is everything. Not luck — time and place. As I prepare to leave the city that made me this reflection is made with tears of gratitude. It is a deep belief of mine that we are able to manifest our realities. With manifestation comes choice. Thought can not exist alone without action or it is meaningless. Therefore time is not a flat circle. On the island that was stolen from the Manhattoes, dreams are sold under bright lights of illusion. Remaining true in a den of vipers takes serious resolve. Wars over style, over dirt, over paper. Hustle over everything. Life lived with respect and integrity will produce memories of light. Echoes of a way through the darkness, imperfectly. These words are my letter, in tribute to all the people and experiences that gave me life. Without New York City -- none of this exists. Thank you to @kawa_pei and the entire team at @grindmagazine for giving me the space for these words and images to live in print. And to my day one aniki @shimpei1201 for translating my madness into Japanese.