Why are we here? or How did we get here?

As an exercise in self-reflection, ask yourself, “why am I here?” This is NOT the existential version of this question but rather the very literal question about how you ended up in the geographic location you currently call home.

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Did you move for a job, school, a man or woman? Did you always want to live near the ocean or mountains? Did you flee a small town to live in the city or did you flee the city for the peace of the country? Did you run to the place you currently live? Or did you run from something?

That answer to the above questions may be a good opportunity to reflect on your past and get a sense of what may influence your future. Or it may just make you appreciate or resent the physical space you occupy.

Some of the most interesting moments of our life are the days/weeks spent deciding and acting on the decision to migrate. During this time, you typically mull over the pros and cons of leaving a place where you felt like a citizen – where you felt like you were home. You stress about the unknown, making new friends, losing touch with old friends. Then you have the actual act of moving which is a disruptive, stressful, endeavor that requires an inventory of your possessions and if you are like me a payment to your landlord because you forgot to empty your refrigerator.

Once you have landed the story gets even more interesting. Were you inspired to find a new hobby, or did you discover something new about yourself because you had to spend more time alone?

Somewhere between landing in your new place and the time you feel at home is a story. I challenge you to think about it or better yet, write about it – it will uncover memories and feelings that are unique to any journey. When you are done with that; find someone you know or a total stranger and ask if they will share their story or stories. And when you have exhausted, dissected, and reminisced you can now have an honest conversation about why we stay.