Let’s be real. In the moment, new beginnings suck. Change sucks. Anything remotely unfamiliar sucks. Yes, eventually it’ll probably turn into something better and we’ll be able to look back and be thankful for whatever brought about this development, but until then we’re wistful for the past and for the way things used to be just because of the simple predictability it offered. For the first couple of months of college, I had been nostalgic and gloomy at times for this very reason. I missed being at home with my family and the comfort they provided. I missed being a senior in high school, breezing through the last few months of school and just living life because that chapter of my life was about to end. I missed my friends who could tell what I was thinking just by glancing at my face. I even missed my old problems and grievances. At first, I thought I was the only one who felt this way because everyone else seemed like they were having the time of their lives. But I slowly realized that almost everyone is in the same boat as I am, and that made me feel better because I realized it’s normal to feel this way. So, if you feel this way too, here are some reminders:

1. Everyone feels like this at some point. In fact, most of us will feel out-of-place numerous times throughout our lives. Some people hide it better than others, but know that you are not alone.
2. Focus on the present and the future. Dwelling on the past won’t help you adjust to the unfamiliar environment. Immerse yourself in this new beginning and remember why things had to change.
3. Adjusting takes time. You won’t feel at home overnight, but it’ll happen gradually and it’ll pleasantly surprise you when you realize it happened.
4. Don’t scare yourself out of pursuing this new opportunity. Unfamiliar does not equal bad, so even if you’re uncomfortable at first, it’ll get better, more bearable, and eventually ‘normal.’

Daunting as they are, new beginnings are essential and are actually pretty great. They can’t always be sunshine and rainbows, but when they are, they light up our lives and make them better than they were before.