Main Quest Checklist #1

Hello Friends! Welcome back. This is the companion to the first video in the series called “Main Quest Checklist”. It’s dedicated to giving you a starter kit for leaving the nest!

So before getting over the first hurdle, lets talk: Are you interested in leaving home? Is this something you’ve dreamed of? Lazily desired? Or just toyed with when scrolling through memes on Twitter lol.

What I’m trying to get at is however much you get out of Main Quest Checklist depends on whether you’ve invisioned yourself moving away from home (farther than a block away). You may be on a quest now, far away from home, in what feels like unknown territory! Or you might have only lived in the one town you grew up in. Hometown heroes are cool, I don’t necessarily think everyone is destined to journey abroad. But if you can, and have the will to, I can't recommend it more!

After living in 4 different states across the U.S. I can say those experiences made me a richer person with a grander (more grand?)vision, and more capable of making a contribution to society. It may sound far-fetched to some but Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it wasn’t built by the Romans alone! It took peoples coming together from various backgrounds to create the place that held such an inspiring civilization. Similarly, it takes influence from all over to make you the best version of yourself. So if you aren’t exposing yourself to culture and wonders from afar (via the interwebs or your social circle) then we’ve got some work to do!

The first and most obvious issue that presents itself when considering where you want to go is how to leave the family and friends you’ve already developed where you are. If you’ve never moved before it might seem impossible to remove yourself from the circles you’re tied to. Considering that you are already thinking of the opportunities to be had elsewhere, some seed in your mind has planted itself and is ready to blossom. Have no fear! This is what it is all about, breaking through comfort zone boundaries to access these opportunities.

Let me clarify as well: I cannot convince you to leave your comfort zone. No one can. But if you have that little inspiration to do so and your circumstances allow (aka no sick family or little children to look out for) please let me attempt to soften any guilt you may harbor about leaving. Exiting the nest can and will benefit you AND your loved ones!

Think about it, consistency is great until the challenge in your life becomes stagnant. Opting for change means taking on new challenges, and new challenges create growth whether you succeed or fail. In fact if you try to leave and only succeed in falling flat on your face, that’s ok! You are going to return home with new ideas and a refreshed perspective. More importantly sometimes, those around you will see that change and respond accordingly. The efforts you apply to your life will create ripples in others and some will find the strength to chase their own distant dreams! Funny how humans work, huh?

Your attempts at engaging the world outside of your own will introduce you to new avenues of thought. Living in a new place teaches you about history, culture, and can reaffirm your outlook or change it completely. So fear not, this isn’t a selfish endeavor. Inspiring others and improving yourself contributes to your original “clan” and will create positive effects!

While i have hands seeds planted in my mind of living across the country for years (10+ actually), seeing my friends Julia and Landon take the initial plunge and move to LA really accelerated my interest. Not only was their journey exciting to watch but it became something I learned from. They Proved it could be done and therefore made it real and attainable for me. Planning, execution, and results for them served as fire under my ass to make it happen for me.

It took me almost a year exactly to chase them out to LA, but the fact that I MADE IT is still mind blowing.I’ve since learned that you shouldn’t underestimate how achieving your dreams can inspire others to do the same! This is definitely one of the instances where helping yourself IS helping others.

The second biggest reason to attempt an undertaking is because NOW IS THE TIME. We live in a world connected by by strings of technology that keep us bound to those we love.FaceBook, social media, video chats, etc, make keeping up over long distances more accessible than ever before. We might take our social apps for granted these days but with some effort on your part they can help maintain your tether to your family and friends.

For me it’s taken some time to truly reconnect with some of my social circles in CT. When I left I had budding relationships in some clicks, long time friends who appreciated me in others, but all around I was at a high point in my connectivity with others. My sisters and I were also experiencing somewhat of a social renaissance, visiting and connecting with each other more than we had in years previous. So how could I possibly remove myself from that equation? Especially when things seemed like they could go on forever?

Everyone who knew me also knew about my wants and needs. They also cared enough to recognize that heading out west was something I needed to do, even if it was by myself. I’m not going to lie, I’m lucky and grateful to have developed such a great assembly of people who cared about me. Regardless of your situation though, there are people you will want to keep in your heart and if their numbers are in your phone, they’re just a FaceTime away! Will you miss them still? Surely. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Ive kept a weekly video chat going with a friend who is in a similar situation to my own and Ive made Friday’s my go to day for catching up with family/friends. Now that I am returning to social media I’m seeing what other people are up to, where they’ve been, and what changes are happening in their lives. Don’t be afraid of FOMO! The truth is you are always missing out on something whether you’re at a rave or settling in for a quiet night on the couch. The same goes for travel. You WILL miss out on opportunities no matter where you are. But the most important opportunities are the ones you create, wherever you go. And trust me, you will be so involved in what is right in front of you in your new home that time will fly without your realizing it! More on that in a future post…

I felt I needed to address this issue before getting into the nitty gritty of what happens after you commit to moving somewhere new because it can be the biggest roadblock to accepting you want to leave in the first place. If you don’t, that’s great! You’re satisfied with where you are and what you do, but for many the place we grow up in is not the ideal place we want to be. Take the time to rationalize what might otherwise be an overstatement when you think “I cant leave because X people are in my life right now”. Doing right by you is almost always going to do right by them as well. And if they really love you - no one will stand in your way of progressing as a person!

Until next time, I love you all. Have a great week!