Everyone comes from somewhere. Whether it's a small town, suburb or crowded city, some part of you probably couldn't wait to get out of your hometown. Spending roughly 18 years in one place may seem undesirable to a lot of people, but one day you'll miss your hometown and the simplicity of the childhood you spent there. Here are five things you should thank your hometown for.
1. The friends you met.
Your first friends (the ones that fill up the pages of your baby albums and those old photographs) undoubtedly came from your hometown. So did the kids you sat next to at lunch in elementary school. They may not be present in your life anymore, but at one point they were and that's what counts. They're the ones that frequent your childhood memories and stories, which is important in itself because they become a part of your identity. You can probably still remember that time someone from your first grade class laughed so hard that milk came out of their nose. Their stories became yours to tell.
As you got older, you chose your friends based on their personalities and the things you had in common. A lot of people you meet in high school may eventually fade into the background, but there are some you'll keep in touch with for the rest of your life.
2. The experiences you had and the lessons you learned.
Like it or not, your hometown taught you a few things. Some you have permanent reminders from, like that speeding ticket you got for going 20 miles over, or the scar you got jumping off a playground swing. Your hometown was the backdrop for all these experiences and life lessons that you'll carry with you for the remainder of your life. They are some of the things that make you unique.
3. The desire for something more.
Knowing the same people and driving the same familiar roads makes you realize there are so many people you don't know and so many places you haven't been yet. Growing up in one place can make you restless for new adventures and different ways of life. Your hometown probably gave you the desire to travel and fulfill those needs. If you've been tied to one place for so long, no one can blame you for wanting to float from place to place for a while.
4. Teaching you how to be happy where you are.
Even if you hated your hometown, you still had to live there. Until you go off to college, there's really no way out. Living in a town you wouldn't have chosen for yourself, you're forced to learned how to make the most of where you are. That might've meant finding new friends or discovering new places. Either way, you learned a sort of self reliance and took your happiness into your own hands. This skill will be useful later in life as well; you should always make the most of where you are.
5. Making you fully appreciate vacations.
Vacations were an escape for your seemingly regular, boring life. Boarding planes to other states made you breathe a sigh of relief. It was important to get away from all the drama and just be in a place that was different, somewhere where no one knew about that embarrassing time you backed your car into a mailbox (or whatever stupid things you did in high school). Chances are you have a reputation in your hometown, and it's nice to just get away from the pressure and expectations that exist for you there.
Your hometown is a part of you, however small, and you should be grateful for the days you spent there.
