With each new place I live, my transition to life in that new place goes through a series of phases or attitude adjustments. They go something like this:
1. Excited to explore new surroundings
2. Miss my old life and friends, but still positive about new place
3. Irritation towards everything in/related to the new life
4. Remind self that it takes time to adjust
5. Start counting down until the next move
6. Remind self that it takes time to adjust
7. Freak out completely - absolutely hate new place and would hitchhike back to old place (any old place, just pick one, anywhere would be better than here)
8. Begin plotting escape from new place
9. Start to feel more settled in new place, but continue plotting escape
10. Realize that life is not that awful in new place - consider not associating new place with hell or purgatory
11. Remind self that it takes time to adjust
12. Make moves towards accepting new life
13. Wonder when new place became home instead of that place I live and keep my stuff
14. Realize that I will miss this place when I leave
15. Can't imagine life anywhere else
The whole process takes about 18 months to complete. Right now I'm somewhere between 8 and 9. Now think about what it would be like to repeat this as many times as I've moved, and you may understand why I'm more than tired of starting over in new places.
5 comments:
I can completely relate. For me it's seems like the "grass is always greener somewhere else" mentality seems to take over. Then I realize that no matter where I am... life has it's disappointments and it's wonderful gifts. Guess that's why God recommends we be "content in all circumstances"!
You might want to print this list up and post it above your mirror or computer monitor. Maybe even laminate it.....That way you can take it with you if or when you DO move. :)
It's interesting - I wonder if this is a cycle you go through because you grew up in the same place your whole childhood...My family moved like clockwork every 7 years (more if you count house moves rather than area moves)...and I think I always accept that everywhere I live is temporary...It's like I skip almost all of your "middle" phases. :)
huh. that is interesting V. I totally relate to the list though, that's close to what I did in CA.. and at 18 months i moved. this made me laugh out loud by the way.
it stretches us. i think it also gives space for growing. i look back at my time in verm and now i see it so different than when i lived there. it was actually an endearing time in my memory.
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