Embracing the CHG with CHIC!

Moving places isn’t always as exciting as it sounds. At least not for someone like me—someone who clings to routines, who likes knowing what tomorrow looks like. Change and I have always had a complicated relationship; I need to see it coming before I can make peace with it.

When I moved for my studies, I was ready. Even going abroad didn’t shake me much because I had time to prepare. But after PG, life had a plot twist waiting.

There I was—hopelessly giving interviews, praying at least one company from my city would take me in. Sure, I was applying to roles all over the U.S., but deep down, I was blindly confident I’d land something close to home. Turns out, the universe had other plans. One of those typical interview stories—two or three rounds, and before you know it, there’s an offer letter in your inbox and you’re suddenly booking flight tickets to a place you’ve never been.

1. The Unexpected Move

I still remember the day I moved from Texas. It wasn’t a planned relocation or a dream come true — it was a sudden work-related decision I simply had to make.

As a Texas girl with roots in South India, I’d spent my life under the Deccan Plateau’s heat. My tolerance for warmth? High. My patience for cold? Absolutely none.

So when life decided to send me from the land of sunshine to the land of snow, I was… not exactly thrilled.

2. Settling In — Barely

The whole and sole reason I moved to Chic was work — so when it came to “settling in,” let’s just say I barely did.

When I landed at ORD, I wasn't exactly glued to the window, waiting to fall in love with the city - I mean, what grand “city view” can you even catch from the airport road? Chicago did attempt a dramatic welcome though… with rain.

And yes, rain and I are still very much not on speaking terms.

We waved at each other tho!

The first few weeks were survival mode — new workplace, new commute, figuring out meals, finding an apartment. By the second weekend, I’d finally ticked off most of my “settling in” list.

3. Downtown by Chance

That weekend, exhausted from moving into my new place, I ended up downtown — purely by chance, not by choice.

It was September, and the city was bright and beautiful.

I felt like nature was wrapping me up in its blanket, showing off all its beauty and colors just for me. (Classic cuddle move!)

After a long day of endless packing and shifting, my friends and I decided to dine at Nando’s. The place was crowded, noisy, and buzzing with energy.

Physically, I was drained—and mentally, exhaustion was creeping in, though I was trying to keep it low key. So, I slipped out for some air (a classic me move!).

I wandered toward Trump Tower, phone tucked away, walking at the slowest pace possible, sinking into everything I was feeling.

The sun had just set, and the sky was shifting from gold to deep blue. I could feel the city changing around me — the hum of traffic softening, the air cooling, the world slowing down for a brief, magical pause. And then, one by one, the city lights came on.

4. My Grand (and Accidental) Welcome

That moment — me on the road, the lights turning on — felt like a grand welcome just for me.

Yes, so filmy. So dramatic. Classic Nimisha! Even tired, I can’t resist a little cinematic flair. But seriously, it reminded me of Indian weddings, when the VIP/bride or groom makes that grand, spotlight entrance. That night, Chicago was doing that for me.

I was this curious little woman, staring at the lights intensifying against the dark sky. I blushed at the universe’s little gesture, smiled, and kept walking. I found myself looking up at the tall buildings, counting floors, tracing lights, reading company names — just because.

Something shifted that night. I realized I’d been trying to settle only at work, letting my job define me. Work had been the main character — my mission, my identity. But in that moment, I finally felt like I was the main character.

As I walked slowly, soaking in the city, my view changed. The skyscrapers no longer looked like ambitions to chase, but part of a story I was already living.

5. The Lightbulb Moment (Literally)

I realized something bigger: I had always chased light. Not just literal light, but purpose.

At that point in life, was a job. A job that gives me the purpose of my existence.

And Chicago welcomed me with it &—a grand display of lights, dazzling and alive.

Every glowing building, each lit window, felt like a possibility.

Blinking lights? Uncertainty.

Turned-on lights? Opportunity.

Turned-off lights? Missed chance.

Downtown was full of lights. Endless opportunities I couldn’t possibly count in a year, or even a decade.

And for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of missing out. The city, its lights, the energy—it filled me with positivity.

That validation? I didn’t need anyone else. I realized I had given it to myself.

And honestly, I probably needed that.

6. CHIC and CHG

Change can feel like an uninvited guest — surprising, a little inconvenient, but never without lessons. It teaches, it stretches you, it opens doors you didn’t even know existed.

Work is just one part of life, and it alone can’t define who you are.

Chicago taught me that possibilities are endless.

That even in uncertainty, there’s beauty.

That purpose extends beyond a job title.

Opportunities will come — you just need the eyes and the heart to notice them.

Balance might be a myth, but gratitude is very real.

And sometimes, pausing to soak in the lights around you — even on a cold, windy night — is exactly what matters.

✨ Takeaway

Sometimes, all it takes is a quiet walk in a new city to remind you — it’s okay to change. You don’t need a role or a routine to feel like yourself. There’s a quiet beauty in uncertainty.

In the rush of 9-to-5 work and 5-to-9 burnout, we often lose track of where we’re headed, what we’re doing, and what we’re forgetting to appreciate.

Change has a way of finding us right when we need it — even before we realize it ourselves.

I was so eager for my role to define me, without noticing how little I was prioritizing myself. Now I see that while work and goals are a part of life, taking a moment to pause, breathe, and cherish where you are — that’s what truly makes life feel full.