New Places You’ll Go!

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”

― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

If you haven’t read this in awhile…or ever…I suggest you find a copy ASAP (hint…great graduation present..thanks Aunt Jan).

If you are reading this you may be finding yourself in a new place, you’ve already gotten on your way. Or maybe you are in the same place you have been for while, but you need a change or a shift in perspective.

Maybe you have moved for reasons that you chose. Or maybe you didn’t have much choice in the matter. Either way – moving is hard – change is hard.

I lived in four states as a kid as I was attending grade school. It was tough, there were moments it broke me. I often got the question…military kid? The answer is no. I’ve also lived in several places as an adult as well, these moves more for reasons of my own choosing. As I look back on all the ups and downs, however, these experiences have shaped me, they have made me stronger. It’s all been part of the journey and offered me a chance to do things I would never have been able to do any other way.

As far as being in a new place, with Dr. Seuss inspiring me, one word immediately comes to mind. Opportunity. You can see the task of moving to a new location as a challenge…or you can see it as an opportunity. A chance to grow – to experience – the choice is yours.

There is certainly an excitement to being in a new place. To be able to try new things and to go to new places. Don’t miss out! Join meetup.com and find an activity that suits you, join a fitness class, get involved in church. Is there something you have liked previously, but haven’t done in awhile? (An art, a skill, sport, etc.) Now would be a great time to pick that up again! Meeting people is easy if you take the time to look for others in your new community that enjoy the kind of things you do. Take this step boldly!

However you find it, community is important. Your Facebook friends are great, but they are not really living life with you. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if you feel lonely at first, there will certainly be an adjustment. When I moved to Georgia after college I was accustomed to having friends around all the time. After college, in this new home, I was lonely for a while. It was much harder to make friends when you’re not passing one another daily on campus.

But you have to keep putting yourself out there and do the work to meet people. After many months, I had many acquaintances, but I had found one rock star friend, and for that I was grateful. All that to say, I wholeheartedly believe that one “truly-great-really-there-for-you” friend is better than many shallow friends that are easier to find. Let me offer you some encouragement, finding the one good friend is worth the wait. Take heart, in time she will come.

As far as being in a new place, with Dr. Seuss inspiring me, one word comes to mind. Opportunity.

Two final thoughts I would like you to ponder about the reasons for moving or not moving. 1) If you are in your twenties and you feel like you need to move out of mom and dad’s house and you have the opportunity to do so, but they do not want you to leave…it may be time. People will go on without you. They will be fine and so will you. 2) On the flip side: the grass is not always greener on the other side. If you are moving to get away from that person, relationship, issue, etc. just the act of leaving may not be the solution. The baggage comes with you…sorry. Getting a fresh start may help, but you need to take other steps to sort those things out for yourself.

So, if you are thinking about moving…consider your motives, a move is a pretty a big step to take impulsively…I wouldn’t suggest it. But a move that is planned and purposeful, I absolutely would!

My final encouragement – Enjoy the next leg of your journey! I am sure there are new, wonderful, and great things to come! Ones you would have missed if you’d stayed where you were! Embrace the experience!  Remember this…..

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”

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Considering a change? Check out Making Friends in a New City or Seeking an Upwardly Mobile Career?