Earlier today, a friend and I took to Facebook for a virtual pow wow on our creative pursuits. A recent change to my freelance hours due to budget cuts (yes, again) have left me a teeny bit uncertain about what direction to take things in and moments like these often lead me to toy with idealistic dreams.
"If you could live and do anything anywhere, where and what would that be?" I asked her.
As writers who yearn to travel the globe, we both mentioned moving overseas and working for ourselves. I don't know if it's because of all the traveling I've been doing or because I want a different pace of life and scenery to shake things up, but I've been growing tired of New York City. Thirty years and I admit I've yet to scratch the surface on all it has to offer, but seeing the same sights, walking the same streets, and feeling the constant push and pull is wearing out my soul.
"The boredom comes from knowing you could be doing more to fulfill your purpose," she said. "So what is stopping us?"
To this I listed three options: fear of failure, fear of success, and fear of giving up the life you've grown accustomed to. My poison is the last: it's scarier to give up the habits and life I've become comfortable with - even though they're not so satisfying - for something unknown. But like my friend was quick enough to remind me, there is also something exciting to be found in uncertainty.
Would you ever leave pieces of your current life behind for the chance to create something different elsewhere?
Image: viensmangerunecroquette.tumblr.com
Oh heck yes, and I think what's comforting to me is that it doesn't have to be permanent. So when you think you're giving in to the fear, just remind yourself that the people you leave behind will be there upon your return (God willingly), that technology makes it easier to stay in touch, that at the end of it all you'll have memories, tales to tell, a priceless experience, and who knows what else. The best thing about NY is that it is always willing to take you back with arms wide open (unless the real estate market has pushed you out that is, lol)
ReplyDeleteHey, are you planning on leaving NYC too? Where would you go?
ReplyDeleteI hope so. The world is too big not to! I can't say for certain where just yet. I haven't been that many places just yet. I sorta want to just visit a place and think "man, I could live here..." I could list a whole bunch of places, but I haven't done my research. It would be based on pure assumption that I'd love it- Spain, Greece, Italy, Argentina, London (but the weather can be dreary), or another big city like Chicago, or maybe west coast it up in San Diego... sigh... For now- just a visit to good old DR lol
ReplyDeleteMira sometimes a quick getaway is just what we need to recharge and put up with the madness for a little longer. Pero como que my getaways are getting closer and closer together...hmm...
ReplyDeleteI think the hardest thing would be leaving my people's behind. Even if it's just a temporary move. That said, I don't know if I even want to raise kids here and the thought of raising them away from you guys is hard, too.
On the bright side, you'd have someone living someplace you could visit! Now if only the rest of you would spread out so I could do the same.
And Argentina? What's pulling you there? I'd head straight to France or Spain (but more France). Though I can't lie, every time A. and I visit his family out by LA, I wish we could just stay. There's so much space out there! Who knows where we'll end up.
Dique Brooklyn.
Lmao Brooklyn? Y que diablo ay paya? El diablo ta paya! lmao! Argentina was SP's suggestion. Eh, why not! And man, I wish I had friends located cool places I could visit, but you're not really allowed. I need people I'm close enough to that I'd visit and stay with them, but not that close that I'd miss them every day. So while I am encouraging you to travel, I'm also telling you I'd resent you forever =) xoxo
ReplyDeleteOh grreeeaat, NO PRESSURE!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this post!!!
ReplyDeleteI too have the strongest desire to move somewhere new. Except I don't know where I'd move to. There are so many places I'm passionate about.
I would love to move to New York and I'm planning on visiting at the end of the year. I also would love to move to Paris but that seems far scarier.
So many options and no idea how to decide. And yes, so scary to think of failure and having to create a new habit and life.
XO Samantha
Well if you don't, that thought could nag you for life. No reason why you can't test it out for a bit, without the goal of making it permanent if that scares you, and see what it's like.
DeleteThankyou for the advice. You're so right! I will probably be disappointed if i don't do it, even for a bit.
DeleteXO Samantha
I always thought having my children would solidify the idea of staying here, at home. But as each year passes, I feel myself getting really restless. I know my parents would resent me forever and then some if we left, and so we won't, but part of me is really desiring a change. On the other hand, we have a family we are close friends with who recently moved away for work and couldn't take it six months. This was home, the people here are comfortable and kind, and they are now moving back. Is it a grass is greener moment? I am trying to live in the "life is what we make it" philosophy and make each moment here special for my kids.
ReplyDeleteWould you guys ever try someplace new when the kids were in college or would that be too far into the game at that point? And hey, just because someone else didn't take well to the move doesn't necessarily mean you wouldn't either.
DeleteEstimada amiga, I believe we are onto something.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, as long as I have my family by my side, I can always start fresh somewhere new. In fact, we talk about spending a year in Taiwan when the kids are older.
ReplyDeleteAww that would be incredible! Reminds me of blogger Jordan Ferney who's moved to Paris with her family for a year and has made me envious ever since.
DeleteI would, and have!
ReplyDeleteI'm a firm believer in answering the door when oppertunity knocks. After all, if the offer doesn't work out, you can always go back, but at least you know you tried it, and you wont have to spend the rest of your life wondering what would have happened if you'd done it.
Wehn I was 18 I moved from Wales to Canada to be with my now hubby. We ended up moving back to Wales within about 6 months, but I did it. I was scared, but I wasn't going to let the chance of a fresh start with someone I was sure I wanted to be with get away. Like I said, we ended up coming back, but I tried it out. Also, back in October we moved from Wales to England. We didn't know for sure if it was going to be the best thing for us in the long run, but we did it anyway, because it felt right at the time. So far it's turning out to have been a good move.
The point is, you don't know until you try, and if the oppertunity presents itself, I say take it and just remember... You can always go back home if things don't work out!
Good for you for following your heart and being so gutsy. What made you move to England?
DeleteI've been wanting to move south for years... Always have an excuse not too...
ReplyDeleteAnd they are? I feel like the water is always pulling you towards it so I say go for it someday.
DeleteI actually left my country, less than a year go, to come to NY. And I'm still scared to death... but at least I shook off some habits. Think about it this way, I wanna have interesting stuff to say to my grandchildren some day.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's gutsy! I'd love to have that kind of courage to just uproot and go somewhere new despite the fear.
DeleteI would love to run off to a new land and start a whole new life.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that holds me back is the possibilities of things that could happen if I stayed.
It feels like I've lived my entire life in a long series of "what ifs."
Me too! "What ifs" have always run my life. It's paralyzing sometimes, huh?
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