Victor Li
Moving can be painful but it provides many crucial and long-term benefits for your life. When I moved from Florida to New York I wasn’t looking forward to many changes ahead.
On one hand, I was scared of the unknown in the north. I heard those New Yorkers were tough! But, on the other hand, I was somewhat excited to see what was ahead for me in the Big Apple. It wasn’t until I finished my move that I realized this feeling of excitement is actually exhilarating and maybe even healthy. Looking back, this was a good move for me. Here are a few reasons why I believe moving is healthy:
Exploring yourself
Moving to a new place means discovering a new you. When you’re exposed to a new culture with new people, you discover a part of yourself that has never been explored before. Knowing yourself better is something that everyone should look for and moving can help that process.
Challenges
Challenges are healthy. Pushing yourself to your limits, and beyond, keeps both our minds and our bodies fresh. Moving to a new location is a challenge for a number of reasons. For me, it was nerve-wracking to move to not only a new country, but then move around in that new country multiple times! Literally, I knew no one, but overcoming the fear of the unknown made me a stronger and a better person, guaranteed! After all, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?
New everything
Moving to a new city means the potential for new friends, new restaurants, new bars, new hang out spots, new everything! Isn’t it exciting to have all these new places to try? You will never have to complain about always going to the same places with the same people. New adventures are waiting for you in your new city.
Fresh start
Moving gives you the opportunity to have a fresh start. When you move to another place, you can become whoever you want, regardless of where you come from. This is a chance for you to start something that you have always wanted to do, be someone you’ve always wanted to be, take up hobbies you never knew you had. Do whatever you want – it’s a beautiful thing.
Network expansion
Your loved ones at home will always be there for you, but it might not be so simple meeting new friends and loved ones at your new home. So, you’ll need to expand your network. New encounters, new perspectives, new people will introduce you to new experiences. Whether you make friends immediately or not, expanding your network is a good thing. Challenging yourself to make new friends at any age is good for you. It may not always be easy but you’ll be thankful for your new pals later.
Self-Reliance
Moving by yourself requires one core thing: you! When you get to your new city and there’s no welcoming committee, just remember that you have yourself. You can rely on you. And, regarding the move itself, you’ll need to pack, buy the things you need, put your moving accommodations in place, and more. While this can be stressful (and annoying!), you’ll get a crash course in self-reliance if you’re not already a functioning independent. Knowing that you can rely on others is great, but always remember that you can rely on yourself.
Moving to a new city alone is a healthy reminder of all the ways we can push ourselves to be comfortable in new surroundings. It’s not easy, but it’s good for you.
