Everywhere you go, there you are

        The experience of my living in different places though has contributed tremendously to my growth. It is a sad realization when you discover that you can't blame anyone but yourself when things are going poorly in your life, but it is also a liberating catalyst for change once you're able to truly recognize it. This is one of the main reasons that I encourage people so strongly to make whatever changes they feel necessary, no matter how radical, to go in the direction of their dreams. Not because there is some fantasy that will be instantly realized on the other side, but because of the growth and fulfillment that this allows for. It allows us to discern what we need to change within ourselves and the external environment in which we thrive. It may sound contradictory that I refer to the importance of the external environment, but I do believe that it is a factor. Nelson Mandela has even stated that although he was able to make the best of his experience in prison (in an incredibly inspiring way) it is still a tragedy that he spent the majority of his adult life behind bars. I think it's a tragedy for any of us to live in a self-made prison of our own. For me, having access to the ocean and being in a mild climate are factors that contribute to my thriving in life. Those things seem to somehow put me in a state of being more creative and attuned with the bigger picture of life. I wouldn't know that if I never left my hometown. It seems to me that too many people live in a constant state of believing that if they could just leave their job, location, partner, etc. then they would be happy, without ever doing so. We are powerful and intuitive beings. If something isn't quite right, we know it somewhere inside ourselves. I just say listen to that voice, even if your journey brings you back to where you started, I guarantee that you will be there with a new found satisfaction and realization in your life, minus the horrible restless feeling of trying to ignore the desire to change.