If you have happened to move multiple times in the course of your life, you’ve likely expanded your view on how the world works. The nuances of different cultures -- whether in the U.S. or overseas somewhere -- stands out. We’re not homogeneous. Yet we have distinct commonalities from country to country.
A long-time friend from high school and college spurred this column. He said something to the effect, “You should write about how your moves have affected you.” He focused on the positive things, and reinforced the importance of sharing broadly how residing in different locations has grown my outlook on the world.
He and I met in Kankakee, IL, a blue collar town, just starting to experience the declines of the manufacturing industry in the 1970s. We attended the University of Illinois together, and since graduating and beginning our careers, I’ve lived in Ottawa, IL, Milwaukee, Washington, D.C. and Maryland suburbs, Columbus, NE, Kennett Square, PA, Grapevine, TX and Hartland, WI.
As best I can recollect, he has lived in Denver and returned to Kankakee, with a stint or two elsewhere, though I can’t remember where those were exactly. It’s been a long, thoughtful and fruitful journey for both of us.
In terms of what I’ve learned, the word “journey” stands out. Beyond traveling to new locations, which exposes you to a host of new experiences, people, cities, towns, scenery, architecture and landscape, you receive the gift of a diverse path in life – the journey itself. We all have a journey. Some are broader, some take you to more new locations, but the actual “living through” each new experience is hugely important in terms of the benefits of living in new places.
But I think my good friend was looking for more in this column. I think he was digging into specific details. I’ll give it a shot.
One big plus is making new friends. Most of us tend to keep friends we’ve made earlier in life. Moving around introduces you to people, gets you out of a comfort zone, forces you to adjust. Whether you need that push or not, you make good friends if you keep yourself open as a human.
You must adjust when you move. This is good. Life is not stagnant. You cannot live in the past. Appreciate the past, enjoy the memories, and create new ones.
You gain new insights with each move. Your views are altered, you probably become smarter (though this could be debated depending on how you take new information into your system and assimilate it).
You grow in tolerance and compassion. Exposed to others who perhaps don’t think the way you do, you are forced (more than you would be if you remained locationally in place) to adjust, listen, think, challenge yourself. I believe this makes you a broader human being, coming to terms with how every person you meet has a unique background and story to tell, influenced by events you hadn’t considered.
There is enrichment – historically and personally. Through the diversity of the people you encounter, you raise your awareness of life and situational circumstances affecting others.
Accents, local and regional cultures make sense. “Y’all” is synonymous with the south. When you hear it every day, it becomes part of you.
A “bubbler” is a water fountain in Wisconsin. Who would have known if you hadn’t lived there? Not me.
You grow in respect. You develop passion and compassion for things you’d never thought about.
I hope I captured most of my buddy’s message here. Either way, I’m confident I will hear quickly from him after he reads this and enriches me with part of his journey.
A long-time friend from high school and college spurred this column. He said something to the effect, “You should write about how your moves have affected you.” He focused on the positive things, and reinforced the importance of sharing broadly how residing in different locations has grown my outlook on the world.
He and I met in Kankakee, IL, a blue collar town, just starting to experience the declines of the manufacturing industry in the 1970s. We attended the University of Illinois together, and since graduating and beginning our careers, I’ve lived in Ottawa, IL, Milwaukee, Washington, D.C. and Maryland suburbs, Columbus, NE, Kennett Square, PA, Grapevine, TX and Hartland, WI.
As best I can recollect, he has lived in Denver and returned to Kankakee, with a stint or two elsewhere, though I can’t remember where those were exactly. It’s been a long, thoughtful and fruitful journey for both of us.
In terms of what I’ve learned, the word “journey” stands out. Beyond traveling to new locations, which exposes you to a host of new experiences, people, cities, towns, scenery, architecture and landscape, you receive the gift of a diverse path in life – the journey itself. We all have a journey. Some are broader, some take you to more new locations, but the actual “living through” each new experience is hugely important in terms of the benefits of living in new places.
But I think my good friend was looking for more in this column. I think he was digging into specific details. I’ll give it a shot.
One big plus is making new friends. Most of us tend to keep friends we’ve made earlier in life. Moving around introduces you to people, gets you out of a comfort zone, forces you to adjust. Whether you need that push or not, you make good friends if you keep yourself open as a human.
You must adjust when you move. This is good. Life is not stagnant. You cannot live in the past. Appreciate the past, enjoy the memories, and create new ones.
You gain new insights with each move. Your views are altered, you probably become smarter (though this could be debated depending on how you take new information into your system and assimilate it).
You grow in tolerance and compassion. Exposed to others who perhaps don’t think the way you do, you are forced (more than you would be if you remained locationally in place) to adjust, listen, think, challenge yourself. I believe this makes you a broader human being, coming to terms with how every person you meet has a unique background and story to tell, influenced by events you hadn’t considered.
There is enrichment – historically and personally. Through the diversity of the people you encounter, you raise your awareness of life and situational circumstances affecting others.
Accents, local and regional cultures make sense. “Y’all” is synonymous with the south. When you hear it every day, it becomes part of you.
A “bubbler” is a water fountain in Wisconsin. Who would have known if you hadn’t lived there? Not me.
You grow in respect. You develop passion and compassion for things you’d never thought about.
I hope I captured most of my buddy’s message here. Either way, I’m confident I will hear quickly from him after he reads this and enriches me with part of his journey.
