The warehouse in Bushwick, Brooklyn
The warehouse symbolizes the tough living conditions of travel journalists. Delaney shows readers that the warehouse she lives in with her colleagues could be more conducive because it smells bad. For instance, the narrator says the guests' room is smelly because it is next to the leaking pipes. In addition, the narrator says that the building is painted X implying that it is marked for demolition because of its bad state. The narrator says, "The walls were flimsy, and painted X's in the stairwell marked for demolition or some future work to be undertaken." It is unimaginable that Delaney and fellow journalists live in a dilapidated structure. Therefore, the warehouse represents the hardships travel journalists face while on duty.
The yoga studio
The yoga studio near the narrator's home symbolizes the need for wellness. The narrator says, "My yoga studio was near home, at the back of a dive bar. You did a class for twelve dollars and got a free pint of beer." The yoga studio encourages people like the narrator to exercise to reduce weight, and whoever takes the challenge is rewarded with a beer.
The birthday cake
The birthday cake symbolizes the narrator's realization that she needs to relook at her lifestyle. When the narrator attends her birthday birth, she is drunk and unaware of herself. The narrator says, "The next night, I went to my birthday party with friends who made me a cake. I sat very still, sipping tea, feeling disconnected and unwell. I was terribly hung over." When the narrator looks at the cake, she realizes she cannot continue living her reckless life because she is growing older. Therefore, she starts making resolutions to adopt a healthier lifestyle and leaves behind her reckless habits ruining her future.
