Everyone has a fear of something, for most people it's a fear of the unknown. The fear that changing course will re-route them in a way where they were worse off than before. Or the fear that you can't undo a decision once it's been made. I have a personal love for the unknown and change, as a general whole. Picking up and moving across country, multiple times, has been so good for my soul. Let me tell you a few reasons why you should not stay in one place your whole life.

1. See what else is out there.

You may think you know what life has to offer; what other places, cities, and states have to offer. But what you see may surprise you. Some of my favorite places have been small towns that I didn’t know existed, places I stumbled upon while driving through to my original destination. You could fall in love with a big city that would normally terrify you. Way too many people, with a horrifying amount of traffic. Or maybe it’s a smaller town with a few shops and diners, where the streets fit on a grid in such a way that you could easily throw a rock and reach the other side. You never know what your heart longs for, if you don’t go explore. The world is a big place.

2. Culture yourself, people are fascinating.

Not only do I think you can learn something from each and every new place you visit, but you can also learn something new from everyone you come in contact with. Sometimes it takes seeing how the other half lives, to appreciate what you have. I’ve traveled around a lot in my lifetime, and I will say that I’ve become more grateful and humbled after each person I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Everyone has a story, and hey, you never know.. someone may inspire you, or maybe you’ll meet someone interested in the same path as you, and you can network. Just know that if all you walk away with is a few good memories, its a heart-warming experience to step outside of yourself and diversify with other people in their element. You will be glad that you did.

3. You may learn some new things about yourself, things you didn’t know before.

I said before that you can learn things from other places. The grounds, streets, old buildings.. everything can tell you a story these days. When see an old abandoned building and you can feel the emotions from the people that previously lived there, when you see an older couple playing chess on the street, you can sense the love that they’ve shared over years and years of being together. Just like these feelings, moving to a new place can teach you a number of things you didn’t know about yourself. You may think you want a career in interior design, and then after you move somewhere with a completely different environment, maybe you fall in love with nature, with the landscape, and you decide that agriculture or something in that field is more for you. Who knows! This is a normal struggle for most 18-25 year olds, so I’m sure this isn’t surprising to hear. Your mind constantly changes, maybe even daily, and anything can sway your decisions.. a movie, a song, even someone else telling you to do something different. I’m just telling you to be open minded, you’ll be so happy that you did. The right answer can come to you in any way, and in many ways, so don’t be afraid to do something drastic to figure out what you really want out of life.

4. Don’t allow yourself to be stuck in a rut, don’t allow excuses to hold you back.

Most people don’t most because it’s too much money. Moving is a pain in the ass. They're afraid of moving, knowing no one, having to start over.. those are all just excuses. While some of them are valid, everything takes time, and there is always a way. You don’t have to go all “traveling gypsy soul” and pack up your car with whatever fits inside, and split. Take some time, save some money, and make it happen. Moving somewhere with a clean slate can be refreshing, take it from someone who has done it five times in their life. You get to start off as just a face in a crowd, no one has any preconceived notions, you can be whoever you want to be. Meet good people, make GOOD friends. It’s a chance for a fresh start. And if you have good friends and family, wherever you go, wherever you end up… they will support you and always visit you. Being alone somewhere new is the number one fear, but trust me, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Planes, trains and automobiles exist for a reason, right?

5. Embrace change. Without change, we don’t grow.

Change is how we evolve. If we aren’t changing, we aren’t growing. We aren’t becoming the best version of ourselves. Life isn’t meant to be lived in a stagnant state. Think about it, why do people change their hair color? Why do people buy a new car? Because eventually they would like to see what else is out there. Eventually they are bored with what they have, and want to try something new. If it helps, find people in your close circle who want to experience new things with you. Chances are a lot of people would want to experience some of the same adventures and changes as you, but not everyone is bold enough to take chances alone. Connect yourself with others to help you reach your full potential, always strive for more. Always reach higher. Believe me when I say the world is huge, and you will not be disappointed if you break free and go experience it.