2021 brought big changes to my family. We moved cities and welcomed a second child.
This was my fourth new city in the last two decades. The moves are coming at a faster interval: 10 years, then 5 years, then two years. This move should last longer, but then, life is tricky.
I’ve found every move in life to be uncertain. How will I know that I’ll like the city or place I’m moving to? I’m never sure. After all, I’ve never lived there.
Every move brings excitement, some trepidation, and a bit of sadness.
But sometimes, we all have to take a leap of faith.
I don’t live in my native country, so this makes every move more uncertain. I was hesitant to move to the previous city. It was much smaller, with fewer internationals.
But I soon found small joys all around me. Our neighbors waved and stopped to chat when they saw us. The nearby river was peaceful and ever-changing, depending on the day and season. We took daily walks with the dog along its banks. We discovered a local restaurant where the owners knew us to wave, although they didn’t know our names. I had my favorite walking routes with things I liked to see along the way.
This experience of newfound joys was the same in the city before this and the city before that. No matter where I live and no matter how temporary, I will always find things that I love. Things that I like to look at and places I like to go. This is also the faith I need to keep for every subsequent move.
For me, many times, it’s the small things that bring joy in a new setting. The trees that turn the best colors in the fall. Shop windows that are constantly changing. A small park. A beautiful house. Cute local shops. The best places to people-watch.
I’ve learned that no matter how much you like the place you live now, there are other good places to live.
I will always hold special memories for each place where I lived. Although it’s sometimes sad to leave, I will not carry any regrets because each new city has brought something special into my life. Each new city represents a different phase in my life.
City #1 was for branching out on my own, living in a city for the first time, and being single. City #2 was for nurturing a relationship and living with a partner for the first time, while still being carefree and young. City #3 was for starting a family. This new stop — city #4 — is for expanding our family and laying down deeper roots.
Each city brought something special to my life and I know that this new city will be no different. So although I felt a bit of sadness to leave, I was also excited about this new adventure.
In the few months here, I’ve already discovered cute streets, nice shops, and tasty restaurants. Our neighbors have come for coffee. Things have begun to be comfortingly familiar, yet there is still so much more to explore. And I look forward to exploring these new places with the people that I love.
There will always be small places to fall in love with. There will always be new people to meet. They are all just waiting for me to discover them.
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Previously Published on medium
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