I’ve always wanted to move to a city. I knew that as young as twelve years old. There was just something I loved about city life. I don’t know if it was all of the people, the convenience of everything, how different it was from my hometown or maybe it was a combination of all of those things. I’ve written a piece on why you should move, you can read that here.

Chicago has been my home for about a year now (literally where does the time go??) and I’m absolutely loving every minute of it. It’s a complete lifestyle change from the suburbs of Macomb, Michigan. I’ve grown so much professionally, personally, and all the while moving in with my boyfriend and learning how to live with someone else (do you know how difficult it is to combine clothes into ONE closet?)

I wouldn’t recommend moving to a new city or state to runaway or “start fresh”. That will honestly hinder your growth and make it harder for you to have a positive experience. In my opinion, you should be in your best state of mind when moving or changing environments because it honestly takes a lot of effort. Everything is new, you need to figure out a routine and figure out what does and does not make you feel good in your everyday life. Not to mention, you’re usually doing this without knowing very many people in a new place. But with that being said, there are also so many positive things that come along with moving:

• You can make a new life for yourself where ever you want. A new job, new favorite places, new routines. I think people make it seem a lot harder than it actually is. You can get up and go, I promise.
• It reminds you how refreshing it is to be open minded and to try new things.
• A new environment makes you adult and adult and adult and to keep adulting til you can’t no more (sounds miserable and it can be, but it’s necessary for growth. And I’ll tell you, I felt like the SHIT after I made my first appointment with a new doctor with my own insurance. I mean honestly, I never realized that I’ve just been going to the same family doctors all my life because that’s where my mom told me to go, but that’s a discussion for another time).
• You learn about new lifestyles and what is and isn’t as important as you thought it was (having a car, walking to the grocery store, etc.etc.).
• In terms of careers/jobs, you don’t always need a foot in the door or to know someone. I can proudly say my last two positions, and any job that I’ve had, I got by applying, interviewing and getting the job. That’s all.
• Speaking of jobs, moving cities allowed me not only to move up in my career, but help me realize that I am capable of a lot more than I thought I was. I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to realize that in my last position, so I’m very grateful for that.
• This is cliche, but experiencing something like moving, makes you learn things about yourself that you didn’t even know you had to learn.
• I N D E P E N D E N C E – this one is particularly important to me, since I could go out and get my first job at fifteen, my family has taught me time & time again to go out and get what I want. I’m not going to say I had a terrible child hood but I did work for what I wanted, things were not handed to me. I’m proud to say that what I have is mine and I worked for it and earned it and I don’t owe anything to anyone. So PAWS OFF 😜.
• You find an appreciation for simple things like time with your family, friends and your home town that you were so eager to run from.
• Home is always there. You can always go back. I take solace in this quite a bit. Your hometown isn’t going anywhere and if you’re thinking about moving or trying something new or a new city, do it. You can always return “home”.
• I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how “at home” you can feel in new environments. Michigan will always be my home, because that’s where my family lives, but Chicago has welcomed me with open arms. I love the life that I’ve made for myself here.

I hope if you’ve been thinking about a change in scenery, you give it some more thought and eventually take the leap. Now in the words of my awesome manager Beth, GO GET EM BEFORE THEY GET YOU.

xx B