Top 10 Gifts of Relocation

Sarah has moved eight times in her adult life. When we sat down to talk she had just completed what she thinks will be her final move – this time as an empty nester.

Though she has owned homes all over the country, Sarah confirmed that any move is somewhat traumatic – even if you’re just moving across town. However, what I call PTMS (post-traumatic move syndrome) is not a part of her story. In fact, she has 10 positive things to report about her nomadic lifestyle.

1)   Reinvention – Sarah calls herself inherently shy, but cultivated a much stronger personality as a result of her moves.

2)   Forward motion – In the midst of a move, there’s no time for lamenting.

3)   Strength of family unit – “We had to have each other’s back,” Sarah shared. They didn’t have a grandma or aunt down the street to could call on. As a result, this deepened the bond of their family unit.

4)   Increased resourcefulness – She learned how to create communities instantly and make connections with key members of the school systems.

5)   More openness to other cultures – Her kids got to see a bigger world than they ever would have experienced had they remained in their small town.

6)   College assimilation – For both her kids, going away to college was a breeze. They had already developed skills that other kids often don’t. They didn’t experience the stress and discomfort that so many freshman do.

7)  Good self-care – Since she had no close relatives, she couldn’t afford to not take care of herself. She is proud of her ability to practice this skill and recognize its value.

8)   Wide job experience – She loved being employed by many different companies, as she enjoys the challenge of learning new things. Her resume is full and varied.

9)   Self-reliance – Without what she calls “ the security blanket of friends,” she needed to get comfortable going to movies and museums by herself. This has been a great experience in independence for her.

10)  Deeper faith - Though she always had a strong connection to her faith, she drew upon it even more and said she never felt alone, even if she didn't know her neighbors.  Her prayer practice increased.

In a future post, I’ll write more about the unique challenges and benefits about moving as an empty nester.