10-15-2012
Shifting Paradigms: Moving Across the Country
Moving. Some people do it multiple times, some people never have to. Moving is hard no matter how big the change is - another city, another state, or another country. It is not only a change in geographical location, it changes a paradigm.
Personally, I moved from Scottsdale, Arizona - the state where I grew up- to Alpharetta, Georgia in June 2012. There are both benefits and draw backs to a move, but one of the biggest changes I experienced was a paradigm shift.
Before I moved, I didn't really enjoy where I lived. The dry and dismal desert seemed to suck the life out of everyone living in it. Everyone I knew wished they could move out of the awful heat somewhere else. They all felt hopelessly stuck.
When I moved, I met new people, and was emerged into a different culture. In my opinion, people I met in Arizona - albeit not everyone- were always in such a rush, they were in their own little worlds; they were generally very quiet, and didn't have much drive. In Georgia, the majority of people I've met are very kind and talkative. Instead of being very quick to do anything, they love to drag on conversations. For example, a stranger in a grocery store in Georgia will start up a conversation with you like they have known you forever, while a stranger in a grocery store in Arizona looks straight ahead and doesn't even acknowledge your existence. People in Georgia also seem to have a single particular thing that they are extremely passionate about - sports, drama, debate, an instrument or choir, as well as many other things. In Arizona people still had interests, but they were not as adamant about a single passion. There is some thing very inspiring when someone is enthusiastic about what they love. They seem to have a special spark. This change didn't teach me what you might think. Although there where many prominent differences between states, one of the things I learned was that humans are all fundamentally the same. As Colin Raye wrote, "I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things too, So we are really not that different, me and you."
Sources:
http://www.actionext.com/names_c/collin_raye_lyrics/were_really_not_that_different.html
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/27075-be-thankful-for-what-you-have-you-ll-end-up-having
Before I moved, I didn't really enjoy where I lived. The dry and dismal desert seemed to suck the life out of everyone living in it. Everyone I knew wished they could move out of the awful heat somewhere else. They all felt hopelessly stuck.
When I moved, I met new people, and was emerged into a different culture. In my opinion, people I met in Arizona - albeit not everyone- were always in such a rush, they were in their own little worlds; they were generally very quiet, and didn't have much drive. In Georgia, the majority of people I've met are very kind and talkative. Instead of being very quick to do anything, they love to drag on conversations. For example, a stranger in a grocery store in Georgia will start up a conversation with you like they have known you forever, while a stranger in a grocery store in Arizona looks straight ahead and doesn't even acknowledge your existence. People in Georgia also seem to have a single particular thing that they are extremely passionate about - sports, drama, debate, an instrument or choir, as well as many other things. In Arizona people still had interests, but they were not as adamant about a single passion. There is some thing very inspiring when someone is enthusiastic about what they love. They seem to have a special spark. This change didn't teach me what you might think. Although there where many prominent differences between states, one of the things I learned was that humans are all fundamentally the same. As Colin Raye wrote, "I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things too, So we are really not that different, me and you."
One of these similarities that I have noticed, is that all people I have met in both states seem to have dissatisfaction. Whether people wanted to move states, move jobs, move schools, have a different family or friend set, or need a pay raise, they were always left wanting something other than what they had. Oprah Winfrey stated “Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough”. I like this quote because honestly, if you keep noticing what you don't have, and are blind to the gifts you have been given, you will never be happy or satisfied. When I saw that complaining occurs in both states it taught me to be thankful for the move to Georgia, and truly not to take anything for granted. I hated leaving my friends and extended family, but I also gained a lot when I moved. I have learned how to be content with my current circumstances.
These two lessons - being content with what I have, and all humans are fundamentally the same - have probably changed my life forever. This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't moved. So, I am thankful that I did move. It wasn't fun, it wasn't easy, but it was worth it. It was eye opening.
Sources:
http://www.actionext.com/names_c/collin_raye_lyrics/were_really_not_that_different.html
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/27075-be-thankful-for-what-you-have-you-ll-end-up-having
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