The week started off nicely enough, partly sunny and warm filled with the possibilities that being in a new place offers the adventurous or timid traveler. I tend to be a more adventurous traveler. As I type this post I’m in a small bedroom painted dark blue with a silver tree painted on the wall. I refer to the tree as the tree of life.
I’m actually in a somewhat…awkward AirBnB property in Chicago that had me asking myself if people should ask themselves if they are travelers or tourists. If you’re wondering which one you are…you just might be a tourist LOL!
I’m a traveler and this year I’ve spent a ton of time immersing myself in other cities. I traveled like crazy as part of my process of letting go of my old life, pushing myself professionally, and keeping my commitments to connect with the loved ones in my life.
As much as I enjoy exploring new places, connecting with new people, and seeing the people that I love this time I realized that I was done. With the exception of seeing my Grandma, I was feeling pretty unexcited about this trip.
So, I Rallied
To make this trip happen. And, I won’t travel after October next year. You learn some things the hard way. Like, doing three big business related trips is great-except when you’re unable to manage the uptick in work because you are on another plane seeking new experiences and business.
Or, that the goals I’ve set for myself such as dating, dieting, and debt, are hard to work on and execute because I’m just not around. There are many ways to “show up” in your life and I did a pretty good job of showing up…except that there is a point where you just have to stay home.
I’m exhausted and I feel very proud of all of the amazing risks that I taken and the results that I’ve seen as a result of taking risks.
As I walked around the cities of: L.A., Sydney, Melbourne, Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, and my Grandma’s tiny town I realized a couple of things about life and my life in general.
- Where you live is irrelevant-it’s what you do in you’re day to day life that matters. Are you meeting people? Volunteering, having coffee with your friends, enjoying what your town has to offer? Are you 100% present and in the moment each and every day?
- People will eventually adapt to where they’re at-even if it’s not where they want to be. Human beings are creatures of survival. I saw myself being able to live in almost every town that I visited (with the exception of L.A. and Atlanta) because they had a lot to offer. Great food scenes, interesting people, and a diversity of experiences.
- I realized that I’m happy where I’m at but that I needed to leave and experience some other things to make sure that really was the case. If you don’t leave where you live for awhile you’re not able to imagine yourself being somewhere else.
Pro/Con Living in Denver
I decided to do a Pro/Con list on living in Denver. I needed to check in with myself to make sure that living in Denver was still the right decision for me. And, quite frankly, I think most people would benefit from asking themselves periodically the following questions:
- Will continuing to live in the place where that I’m currently living help me or hurt me as I pursue the goals and dreams that I have for myself? You could also include evaluating your actually housing as well (too expensive, too small, too cheap, etc.)
- Do I have a healthy community around me? OR, the ability to create a healthy community of supportive and like-minded individuals in the place that I’m living?
- Is the place that I live in enabling me to live a healthy life both physically and mentally?
- Am I around positive people?
- Can I find love? Or, are there opportunities to meet enough people to facilitate falling in love?
- By remaining in this place am I stuck, comfortable, uncomfortable, unhappy or happy?
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about and answering these questions. If I found that Denver was not serving my needs then I was perfectly willing to consider moving to another city. I found that Denver is still meeting my needs but realized that how I approach my day to day living needs to be looked at and some changes need to be made.
It was important for me to really look closely at how I was living my life and life in Denver right now. If I were to decide to move, now would be the time to do it while I’m embracing change. I don’t want to miss out on a window of opportunity and get stuck (like I did at my job).
After meditating, journaling, and spending a lot of time thinking about the best place for me to live I realize that there is no place like home. I love the sense of continuity, of running into people who are connected to me via 2 degrees of separation. Of, running into my high school principle randomly during a side-hustle, and being part of Broncos Nation. I love Rocky Mountain Oysters, and fresh roasted green chilies in September, and burritos sold by random people on street corners after the bars close.
I love looking at my mountains and going during the week or weekend to explore those mountains, it always feels like I discover something new. It’s not the time for me to leave, it’s time for me to really commit (finally) to staying because in the past I’ve always had one foot outside the door just in case.
And so I’m staying…for now.
Do You Evaluate From Time To Time
If You’re In The Right Place?
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Those are good questions to answer! I think you know I still feel torn from time to time about where I want to live. I try to follow Oprah’s advice on that. If you are unsure, do nothing. Kind of strange advice but maybe she was saying, “don’t make emotional decisions.”
I didn’t realize that Oprah encouraged people to do nothing when you’re not sure about something. It actually makes sense because you may end up acting on an impulse prematurely.
true!!!
🙂
Michelle, that’s how life should be. A very well spent. You’re actually living in the moment.
I try to live in the moment…but will be working like crazy from here on out. Time to step things up.
I honestly think about this all the time. I love Atlanta and I’m probably going to eventually settle for good, but I feel the need to live in at least 2 more cities before then. I will worry about that after I pay off this debt though.
I’ve already lived in a TON of places and spent enough time in other places that I feel really good about my decision.
Definitely. I obviously haven’t been everywhere in the world, but I’ve been to a lot and I know where home is. For all its faults.
I was super homesick and DONE with my final trip of the year. If it hadn’t included visiting my Grandma I would have cancelled. I just didn’t want to go anywhere. I just want to nest and stay close to home…for the next 6 months.