Change

That was Obama's big Presidential statement seemingly ages ago. Change is good, so people say, and I agree--sometimes.

I'm a tiny human from a tiny town in tiny nowhere. I know a lot of people from tiny towns in tiny nowheres, that's what A LOT of the south is. I feel like everyone from these tiny towns (myself included) desperately wants to get out. I left my tiny town when I was barely 17 and had no clue what I was doing, so naturally, I came back. In my opinion, coming back for those 3 years helped me as a person know that I definitely wanted to venture back out when the time was right!

Early 2016 rolled around, after not really much thought, but applying to a few schools in Nashville, I was set on moving. I had to get out--my tiny town wasn't home anymore. Much like all my peers who came from a small town, I was all about moving to a HUGE city--which, for me, meant Nashville. I'd known for several years that smallish town living was not for me. I have a different outlook, personality, and way of living than the majority of people in the small town I'm from.

Making a huge change in your life is probably one of the scariest steps anyone can take. I'm talking like going from I-might-color-my-hair-today to I'm-breaking-up-with-my-significant-other-and-moving-across-the-country kinda change. That is HUGE. Making huge changes like that affects you as a person; affects your brain; affects your entire life. That's what you need to make those changes, though; you need to make a huge change in your life. NOW.

Now that I'm all hyped up, let's talk about real-life examples here. Moving, or being scared to move--something along those lines.

One of the changes for me was moving from a tiny town to a big city--and realizing how different they truly are. Cities have so many opportunities to grab! You can literally follow your dreams in any city you choose. Towns are small--everyone knows how small towns work. Have you seen the numerous blog posts about being from a small town? It's all true. All. Of. It. The drama, the "everybody knows everybody" saying: it's all real. Small towns birth some of the most creative people--Johnny Depp, Ryan Adams being two off the top of my head. Being cooped up in a town with hardly any new people brings out your artistic side--and I know it brought out mine. However, being scared to move to a city where you don't know anyone or anything, and every aspect of life is brand new to you is normal.

You're going to be emotional

I mean, who isn't emotional when they do something big? I got hella emotional when I moved--"minor freakouts" is what we'll call them. I worried for a long time that I wouldn't make new friends or have a friend group like I did back home. Being lonely is an emotional feeling, too. New changes in a big city are going to mess with your mind a little bit. That's okay. Use it to fuel your fire a little bit! Go out and make friends at your work, or school, or on the side of the freakin' street. (Note: maybe not that last one, but you get the idea!) Being emotional about a change is so normal that it's not normal, if that makes sense.

See: 7 Things You Need to Know to Deal with Major Life Changes

You'll grow as a person

This is probably the most important reason I feel that you should make a huge change in your life: change helps you grow as a person. Maybe you have no idea who you are or what you want out of life--who does? I sure as hell didn't! I had a college education with a few degrees under my belt, but I didn't know what I really wanted. Being around a melting pot of people sends your brain into overdrive and changes you--for the better. You want to be like the more creative people around you, you want to know more things to help you when you're living alone. When you're forced into hard situations, that's when you really come out; that's when you have to show yourself what you're made of.

Growing as a person and a beautiful soul is really what one needs at our decisive age. Being in a big city, there's so many different people who will help you achieve that goal! I have a friend--he's into music, in a band, loves old films, pretty jazzy person--and we bonded over Bon Iver's new album at work one day, from there, our friendship grew into basically music talk, sending gifs, and making Spotify playlists. I grew as a musical soul by befriending him.

I have a slew of friends with so many different personalities and quirks that we could literally be a traveling circus. (I'm sitting here throwing out ideas with one of these circus performers, actually.) This friend group is so diverse that each person I talk to, I feel like they're all giving me a part of them, and helping me to grow as a person. I've been introduced to so much in this awesome life because of these wonderful people I've met.

That's one of the most beautiful things about moving to a big city; so many artistic things and so many people helping you grow! You're gonna become a person you didn't even know you had deep inside you.

Buck Up

That's harsh, I know. I really don't apologize though. You've gotta get over that "I'm scared" hump. Moving to a big city is actually good for your brain and your soul! Just do it. Honestly. From my tiny little heart: just move to a big city at least one time in your life. It's a riveting experience. If you hate it, you can always move back, or move on! Pack your toys, tell your parents you love them and that this is for you, put your luggage, your dreams, and your fears in your car, and drive.

See: 5 Reasons You Should Move to a Big City Once in Your LIfe

I Did It, Too, And I Know People Who Did

I did it. I moved. I was scared shitless when I moved. New city, knowing no one. Whatever, I just kept telling myself that it was good for me. So many people I personally know are getting ready to take one of the biggest leaps of their lives and move to huge cities. Maybe California, maybe to the coasts of Florida, and one to Nashville (which I AM SO EXCITED FOR--hey, boo!). But they're all scared shitless, too, and I get it. But I tell all of them every day that it isn't as bad as it seems, and they're all ready to get out, just like I was.

I want anyone--and everyone--to follow their dreams and YOU, whoever is reading this, should too. If your dreams don't scare the hell out of you, then are they really dreams? Doing something big affects your life in more ways than you know. It increases serotonin, adrenaline, overall health and happiness, your mood, attitude--I really could go on and on. Just do it for you; not for anyone else, but you. Now, change your life for yourself: help yourself to be the absolute best person that you can be--for you.

"Love yoself. Be yoself. Find yoself." I promise it's one of the greatest treats you can give "yoself".