I’ve come from a long history of “Honey, we’re moving again.” I’ve packed up my life and was forced to start a new one in a different part of the country a total of nine times. When I was younger I didn’t really care. Once I hit my teenage years, and did as teenage girls do, I found the constant moves a reason to resent my parents because why not, right? WRONG. Don’t do it. Your parents are great. Having to start over every couple of years wasn’t easy, but it gave me a different perspective of asking when I grew up as opposed to the frequently asked question of where I grew up.

If I had a dollar for every time I was asked, “Wait, so where are you from?” I’d have about $42. I consider the place I lived the longest as home; shoutout to my Mississippians. I may have been born in Boston, but y'all have my heart. Think about it, a lot of people moved away from the place they were born at a young age, and some have never moved in their life, which, in that case, means they grew up both physically and mentally in the same town or city. Have you ever thought about when you grew up?

When did you start realizing there’s so much more to life than what you’re experiencing, right now? Have you taken your future into serious consideration? When did you start taking ownership of your actions? Have you thought about how much your parents have done and will do for you? Thinking about these things was an epiphany for me. I had taken advantage of so much in my life, but gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to grow up changed my overall perception.

You have emotional ties to the place you grew up. When you experience the ups and downs of middle school, high school, college, and everything in-between with the same people, they become your rock. They’re there for you during your first relationship and your first heartbreak, and are sitting right next to you at every Friday night football game. These people help shape you into the person you become. Whether they are your motivation to get out of your hometown or your number one reason to stay, where you lived while you grew as a person becomes a part of you.

Growing up is based on experiences, good or bad. Personally, I reflect on situations that I noticed made me stronger. Moving every couple of years forced me to be outgoing. Losing someone I loved made me realize how precious life is. Getting robbed while I was asleep in my apartment was a wake up call. But most importantly, being able to explore the world exposed me to a magnitude of different cultures, and gave me a greater understanding that there is so much more to life than the little bubble I live in.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m an avid social media user and Netflix binge watcher, but this stuff is consuming us. There is so much more out there. As much fun as being a part of your couch and moving once for food is, I’d much rather reflect on the time my friends and I snuck into a resort to swim and ended up in the emergency room, or the time we got lost in Berlin and ended up bottoms up at an authentic bar we stumbled upon. Experience life, people! Because it is so awesome, and I can guarantee you’ll see somewhat of a difference when you sit down and reflect; I know I did. I grew up a little bit.