Instead of doing my Friday favorites today, I’m going to tell you why I think you should move (at least once in your life!) We live in this beautiful country of freedom, where we are allowed to move, not only in any of the 50 states we want, but we also have the chance to live abroad. It’s a fact many American people take for granted.
I’ve moved around a lot in the last 3 years (from Chicago, to Washington DC, back to Chicago, to Santa Monica, California, and then to Orange County where I currently live for another month.) And what we are ultimately searching for is a place to call our home. We are hoping to find it next in Seattle, Washington.
Yes, Chicago will always be our home. A lot of our family and friends still there and it always feels so good to be home and seeing their faces and laughing about things from our deep rooted friendships that go way back. You can make new friendships when you move, but there’s nothing like those friendships that have been years in the making, that stem from your childhood.
It is so comfortable to be home. Every time I visit my parents and I sleep in my childhood bedroom, it’s like I never left. They cook for me, I drive their car to see my friends, and we talk over dinner about our days. I totally get why people live at home for so long. I did for years. But it’s such a big world out there and there’s so much to see and do.
Moving away 2,000 miles from my parents, family and friends wasn’t easy. I cried like a baby and at the drop of a hat. But if you’re thinking about moving away, I would encourage you to do it.
You’ve only got one life to life, and sometimes it really is now or never. And if you move and hate it, you can always move back home. Home is your safe place and your launching pad. You’ve got a great foundation there and now it’s time to go into the real world and do all the things you’ve always wanted to do but maybe have been too scared to.
Linking up today with:
Hill Collection and Running 4 Cupcakes
Say Yes to Happy 
Traveling heals my soul, but unfortunately my husband’s job is pretty secure which is funny. It’s kinda like show God your plans and He’ll laugh type of thing. Growing up I never wanted to live here and I marry a teacher, which is the exact opposite of a job that travels ha!
Linds @ Not A Mom
Traveling is so much fun, I totally agree with what you said too. We can’t plan everything, that’s for sure!
I could not agree more with all of this especially since I’ve done the moving thing to another country! Completely scary but in the end I would do it a million times over. I love the quotes you’ve added to this post as well because they are so perfectly fitting! And Seattle is a pretty great city. Much like London weather- that will be your hardest adjustment especially moving from S. California like we did!
I’m definitely excited for some weather in Seattle! I LOVE that you got to move to London! I would go to London in a heartbeat! So glad it’s been such a positive experience for your family.
I love this so much! I think it’s so important to stick yourself out there in any circumstances. You grow the most when you challenge yourself. Maybe that’s moving or taking a different career path or traveling. You won’t see change in your comfort zone! Have a great weekend!
Thanks Lauren! I’m a big fan of stepping outside of my comfort zone and encouraging it for others too. We learn so much and it’s fun to challenge yourself.
This was such a lovely post! I agree about moving around, but also finding a home. Right now London is my home, and after almost 6 months of business travel, I’m more than happy with that! But I don’t intend it to be my permanent home for a few more years at least, and I’d like to travel around and make sure there’s nowhere I like better 🙂
Thanks for reading Pippa! I’m so happy for you that you love London. I would love to go there to live, visit, for business, for any reason really! I think it’s so important to find where we are supposed to call home.
My husband and I have thought about moving before but always decided against it. I think because our whole families are right here in our town. But I’ve been thinking about what you said in this post a lot more recently! Thanks for showing a positive side of moving! (:
It’s tough to move away from family. Especially if kids are going to be in the picture at some point. I know it’s not for everyone. But I’m all for moving, trying something new, and being adventurous whether that means moving or in your own town!
This is such a lovely post. My husband and I always go back and forth about moving further away. But we’ve never found a place we’ve loved as much as Chicago. So moving from suburbs to the heart of the city is going to be our first big adventure. I love the quote about not living the same year over and over and calling it a life. That is how I feel living in the suburbs right now. We take the same walk every day and it’s getting OLD. haha
Hapypy Friday!
Chicago is such a great place to live, both in the suburbs and in the city! We both know what a great city it is! I miss it all the time.
moving away from my hometown and my family was one of the best decisions i ever made. i LOVE my family and my hometown, but i think once you leave and start your life over somewhere you know for a fact that you can do it. the world suddenly seems so much bigger with possibility.
I love my family and hometown too but moving away gives you such perspective like you said! I love that you have a traveling soul Carrie just like mine 🙂
I love the optimistic outlook of this post. We have lived in Portland for 9 years and have decided to go back to my “home” for so many reasons! Can’t wait to be real life friends!
I’m so excited that we are both moving to Seattle at the same time, it’s so awesome! See you so soon Katie! 🙂
I needed to read this! I have been wondering what it would be like to live elsewhere (I’ve always lived in Texas). I moved from my hometown but would like to live in another state or hey – even country for awhile!
I’m so glad this resonated with you Tara! I can’t recommend moving enough. You can always go back home but you should totally put yourself in a new city or country for a little bit! Any thoughts where??
Michael and I talked about moving somewhere for a couple years…but we have some family things where moving far away just isn’t a great idea right now. And we want to raise our kids near their grandparents, so we’ll probably be staying in the PNW. BUT I want to travel everywhere!
I want my parents close by when we have kids too, but until that happens we are super excited to live in Seattle. Hopefully one day we can convince our parents to follow us! My dad and stepmom are in, but we are working on my boyfriend’s parents next! haha
The PNW is a beautiful place to live! And like you said you can always travel everywhere!
I’m with you! You learn so much about yourself through moving-I have moved a bunch, and it’s always so scary & exciting! Seattle is so beautiful-I would love to live there!
Scary and exciting is a great way to put it- I love that! Chicago is a pretty great city too 😉
When I was a senior in college, I wanted to move to Arizona SO bad. Mainly just to get away from the awful winters here & go to graduate school. But, then I never applied to grad school so that dream kind of went out the window. Five years later, I can’t really imagine living anywhere else.
I’m a big believer that things work out the way they should!
AMEN!!! I was so against moving pretty much until part way through college. When other people would talk about moving after college, I was basically like why would you ever do such a thing? The world is so much bigger than our own backyard! I love this post 🙂
Thanks Kylie! It’s not until we move and explore more and travel that we realize what a big world it is out there! it’s so easy to get wrapped up in our own towns and think that’s all there is out there.
Moving is scary. Especially so far away. I’ve done it. I was born and raised in Southern California. I lived there until I was 29. That October I moved to New Jersey where not only did I not have any family and knew exactly one person, everything is completely different. I loved it (the east coast in general, sadly my experiences weren’t always the greatest) but in the end, I’m a west coast girl. In Jan 2012 I made another huge move. To Washington. I actually live in Bremerton, about an hour from Seattle. I love it. Everything about it. I hope you enjoy it and if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I may be able to help!
That’s so awesome we both have lived on both the East and West Coast and will both now be in Seattle! Thanks so much for the offer, I may just have to take you up on it! Do you know any good non profits i could apply to?
I definitely agree. I originally wanted to move near family but then I met kyle and got pregnant so we stayed where we are for now, but it will be great to move one day and be in a different state and climate.
liz jo @ sundays with sophie
Funny how things work out sometimes and years fly by huh? It’s always fun to switch things up every now and then!
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