One of the most impactful things that happened to me when I moved away from my hometown was the change in perspective I experienced. I lived in a smaller town, and one where I enjoyed a sense of belonging and familiarity. I knew who the people were, they knew who I was, and I was able to trade in town on the basis of reputation.
But when I left, it was to a place where I knew no one and wasn’t near any familiar territory. The stores I were used to were gone, and the culture was surprisingly different. Even the little things like small-talk in a grocery store weren’t the same- and it was extremely disorienting for the first year or two. No one could help me if my car broke down, and there was no nearby friend that could store my food when my fridge breaks down (which definitely happened). All of a sudden, I was a tiny fish in a big pond and I didn’t know my way around- which completely cut my confidence off at the knees. I didn’t realize how tied my confidence was to my ability to anticipate an outcome.
Then one day we were driving on the coast along Hwy 101 and stopped at a scenic viewpoint. (ProTip: If it says scenic view point in Oregon, PULL THE F**K OVER). I almost couldn’t comprehend the scope of the scene in front of me- ocean and cliffs and sky and sun all in absolutely stunning perspective. It was so massive and ancient that for one of the first times in my adult life, I felt tiny and insignificant. My life is not even blip of a blink of a speck in time, but instead of terrifying me, it opened my eyes to a whole new perspective about life.
Life is too short. I spent so much time in my twenties just focused on impressing others and keeping up with the “ideal” life plan that we are told to achieve. I cared too much about what other people thought, and I didn’t give myself permission to live freely because I was worried that it wouldn’t fit into the little box I was supposed to be in. In the nicest way possible, no one cares more about you than they do themselves, so why bother worrying about it? You get one very quick shot to make the most of your time, so do it! Take the shot- say yes- jump into opportunities- be bold- say what you are feeling- do what you want with your free time. We are all lucky in our own way to someone- don’t dismiss that to wallow in the rat race of society.