Moving changes everything. Your life is completely turned upside down, and the whole process is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Whether you bounced around a lot as a kid or you’re still on the move today, moving takes its toll on you. Here’s a few things it’s taught me over the years:
- Change becomes somewhat easier
You get used to purging and packing your entire room and even develop a sense of appreciation for all of the blurred landscape you've stared at out the car window on those long drives- systematic change becomes your strong suit. Not to mention, you develop a knack for making lists and knowing exactly what to pack for any type of trip. - …but it also makes some things more difficult.
Just because you get pretty good at deciding what comes with you and what goes straight into the donation pile doesn’t mean you get any better at saying goodbye. As a little kid, it wasn’t as stressful because most kids make friends wherever they go -- but as you get older, leaving your friends and family behind can feel like the end of the world. Although, no matter if things get better or actually do get worse, you survived (and learned a hell of a lot in the meantime). - Sometimes, you just don’t fit in, and that’s OK.
It doesn’t matter how often you spent your awkward pubescent years trying to get people to like you. Making friends seems like the most important thing when you’re in grade school, so the fear of being rejected made you really nervous- especially when you were "the new kid," and everyone already belonged to a clique. Over time, you’ve realized that it doesn’t matter what people think. Certain settings are simply not made for everyone, and you learn to accept that. - You develop thick skin.
People are going to judge and discriminate against you- that’s just a given. Going with the flow and ignoring people who have made you feel like an outsider only makes more room for people who will respect and bring out the best in you. - There’s always something out there for you.
Whether it’s art, music, sports, or any other type of club (even if you thought it was totally weird at first), you’ve learned to appreciate stepping out of your comfort zone because it’s proven the best way to meet people when you know absolutely no one. Finding an activity or group that gives you a sense of belonging is something for which you’ll always be grateful. - You develop attachment issues.
You of all people know how traumatic it is to leave people behind, and because you want to experience as little of that pain as possible, you avoid getting close and especially avoid anything to do with feelings or intimate relationships. A lot of people will assume you’re just not friendly, but you truly believe in your heart that you’re doing everyone a favor by staying distant. - The desire to take risks becomes a habit.
Everyone has their regrets, be it what they did or did not say or do. Once you’re gone, you won’t have these opportunities anymore, so you often want to take advantage of as many as you can to not move on with any burdens. For the most part, you’re not afraid to tell it like it is or do something unique because you know from experience that, one day, you’ll wish you had. - You become conflicted with taking risks when it involves romance.
Part of you says, “I’m leaving soon, so if I don’t tell him/her how I feel, I’ll never know. Plus, if things go wrong, I won’t have to face it for much longer.” But the other part of you argues, “well, what if things go right, and I end up having to say another hefty goodbye? Or, what if things go wrong, and I lose a decent friendship?” The what-ifs will bother you no matter what, but you’re terrified of losing any type of relationship you already have by changing it right before you’re about to leave the picture. Long-distance relationships suck, and that’s a lot of pressure to put on someone. Ultimately, this conflict will consume a lot of your thoughts, so it's definitely important to consider the circumstances carefully before you decide. - You don’t really have one set childhood best friend.
There may be a couple people from the past that you wrote letters to and visited every once in a while who you’re now friends with on social media, but when you grow up cities, states, or even countries apart, you definitely aren't the same as you were when you were younger. You may have friends that you’re close with now, but you’ve always been a little jealous of those who have years and years of history with their best bud. A lot can happen in short periods of time, but there’s a lot that’s missed out on as well. - You develop a sense of adventure.
After being in so many different parts of the country or even world, you slowly come to terms with how small people really are. The Earth is such an incomprehensibly massive place, and you just wish you could see it all. You’re always down for road trips and vacations to new lands, and even look forward to that fresh start and change of pace after you’ve been stationary for a long time. Moving can be one of life's most frustrating stressors, but in the end, it’s always worth it.
