by DJ Schofield |
Last Updated:December 3, 2018 “There is nothing permanent except change.” – Heraclitus
Change is everywhere. It is something that many people dislike and/or avoid. It is something that can be difficult, happy, sad, fun, etc. I have moved states three times in the past three years… I’ve had seven different addresses in six years. New places, new people, and new projects.
It’s been a crazy ride without much time to sit and reflect. I recently began meditating every day. It has allowed me to slow down my mind, live in the present, and reflect on the past. All the technology in our lives has made it difficult to have even a few minutes of unplugged silence. I encourage you to give it a shot… try to go an entire day without your cell phone. Focus on living in the moment.
Anyway, after reflecting on the last few years, particularly on the change that has occurred over this time I discovered something… I didn’t seem to like a place or appreciate it until I no longer lived there.
When I lived in Blythewood, SC I was so ready to get out of there… I immediately made a huge jump 20 miles down the road and moved to Columbia, SC. I soon realized that there were many things I began to miss about Blythewood… the people, places, peacefulness, and my parents (alliteration game is on point today!)
Then, I was in Columbia… Cola town… Soda city… the city that never sleeps! Like Blythewood, overall, I liked Columbia but was still ready to get out. Soon after graduation I jumped ship to Atlanta… a far destination… a whopping 3.5 hours from Columbia. Once moving there, I soon realized a similar thing happened. There were parts of Columbia that I missed. Things that, when I lived there, I took for granted.
Living in Atlanta, I wasn’t the biggest fan… tons of traffic and WAY faster/more populated than what I was used to. It definitely took a little while to get use to. Only a year into Atlanta, an opportunity came knocking… pack your bags and move 815 miles away (15 hours)…
At first this sounded crazy… cold weather? Snow? Corn fields? Are you kidding me? The more I thought about it the more I began to talk myself into it. “Well how will you know if you like it unless you give it a try?” “Snow isn’t so bad.” “Corn fields may be fun!”. I finally came to the decision of “yes” because I wanted to break out of my comfort zone. Move to a place you know no one, with a climate you’re not acclimated to, with scenery you’ve rarely ever seen.
Sounds awesome, right? The ultimate test. I knew I had to go into this change with a different mindset. I wasn’t go to go to Iowa and then later miss certain parts that I took for granted in the moment. Because looking back now, like every other place I’ve lived, there are parts of Atlanta I miss also… tons of things to do, great food, and an electric start up scene.
Now, while on my journey in Iowa I have three things I am focusing on… the good, gratitude, and adventures.
Find the Good
Focus on the good and the positive. I traveled a lot the past few years and there is one thing I realized. Just as no single person is perfect, no single place is perfect (except maybe Hilton Head, SC but that’s up for debate.) Sure, some places are better than others but there is good in every place. Some places you may need to dig a little deeper than others but there are always good places and good people in every inch of the United States (I can’t speak for other countries.)
My mission in Iowa was to only focus on the good. There are awesome people, good food, and many adventures not far away. I seem to find new things each day that are good. I went in as an investigator… asking people everything from “what do you do for fun in Iowa?” to “Where’s the best coffee shop?” Coffee is good… always begin with finding coffee. If you want to know how climate change will affect food, check this article for more insights.
Show Gratitude
Gratitude is interesting to me. It usually seems to be only something we care about towards the end. When someone completes a goal, finishes a project, or moves onto something else in life is when gratitude is most prevalent.
I have made it a priority to show gratitude daily… even in the smallest of things. I actually began a gratitude journal… it’s actually just a collection of sticky notes I write on each day and stick together, but “gratitude journal” probably sounds better haha! Each night, I write down, on a yellow sticky note, three things I am grateful for.
These three things can be as simple as, “I am grateful for the taco bell I had for lunch” or as deep as , “I am grateful to wake up another day.” I probably write the taco bell one more than I am willing to admit but hey, gratitude is gratitude.
Be Adventurous
Adventure can mean different things to different people. I mean it in the broadest of terms. An adventure may be going to see a new movie, going to a new coffee shop or restaurant, or maybe it’s going on a hike in Colorado. There is no adventure to simple or too complex.
I simply want to focus on experiencing a new adventure every single day. Obviously, many of these will be more towards the simple end of the spectrum, but every adventure counts. This is a great way to keep experiencing new things in life. I’m the type of person that must have variation in life. I can’t do the exact same thing over and over. I need a new set of tasks, problems, or projects to complete each day.
Seeking new adventure each day helps with keeping life exciting and fun. It also is a great way to discover awesome places and new hobbies. Get out and be adventurous!
Welcome Strangers
Something I never understood until I moved away from home is how people that move to new places feel. It can be intimidating to move to a new place and not know anyone. It can be uncomfortable when you are with a group of people that all grew up together and are telling stories of when they were in high school.
I have learned over the last couple years that when you run into a person that is new or just moved to where you live… invite them to something. Hang out with them. Be there friend. Sure, you may not end up being best of friends but allowing that person to fit in can be life changing to them.
Put yourself in the shoes of that person. If you were living in a place where you didn’t know a single person wouldn’t it be awesome if a person came up and invited you to hang out with them and their friends this weekend.
To sum all of this up… simply seek the good in life, show gratitude to everything you take for granted in your life, seek an adventure each day, and hang out with a stranger (the advice “don’t talk to strangers” is terrible advice in my opinion.) Each of these are very simple things to implement. If you’re anything like me, they will create happiness and fulfillment in your life.
Leave me a comment below… have you moved away from home? Have a new-found daily habit?