Do you feel like you just don’t fit in in your where you live? Like you are meant to be living somewhere else? Keep on reading!

If you’ve been pondering on the idea of getting out of your hometown and seeing the world, I’m here to tell you: it’s so possible, and is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.

I’ve been there – I know how hard it is to leave everything behind and start over in a new place. Your family, your friends, everything you know basically – But I can also tell you that once you do, it will be worth every second of the challenge.

I am originally from New Jersey, and I just never felt like I fit in there. I am a warm, welcoming, happy, adventurous gal and let’s just say, most people in New Jersey are not lol. And if they are, I can almost bet they will eventually leave New Jersey too. My partner TJ and I bonded over being so outdoorsy and adventurous, as well as wanting nothing more than to get out of Jersey. We were originally best friends before we started dating, we were always going on hikes together and talking about how much better it could be if we were living somewhere else.

If you relate to any of that, keep on reading for what may possibly be exactly the motivation you need to move somewhere that will allow to be your most authentic self.

Here are my top reasons for why I believe leaving your hometown is important for your happiness

1. A FRESH CLEAN SLATE
   
   This one is obvious but is way better than you even think it will be. In your hometown, you know people that you have known for so long. Maybe for you that’s people from high school, or maybe even middle or elementary school! I know I have changed DRASTICALLY since high school, as most people have. Moving to a new city gives you the opportunity to have no expectations for you to be the person people know you as. You can be whatever you want to be, and let me tell you, it is one of the most freeing feelings EVER.
   
   
2. INDEPENDENCE
   
   I personally have always been a pretty independent person, but moving out of my hometown has skyrocketed that more than I thought it could. When you live at home with family you will never be forced to grow as you will always have a back up plan or people to rely on. You are capable of doing it yourself, I promise you!
   
   
3. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
   
   You’ll have more opportunities for growth outside of your hometown! Whether that growth be mental, professional, etc., by leaving your hometown and expanding your horizons you will realize how big the world is, and how there are endless opportunities waiting for you!
   
   
4. THE PEOPLE
   
   The people are different, and that’s good! If you’re looking to meet new people and make some new friends, a different city will give you the chance to do that in ways that would never happen if you stayed put in your old stomping grounds. Especially if you’re like me and never really felt like you fit in in your hometown, leaving and going to a place where you’ll be surrounded by like minded people will be such an incredible experience for you. Instead of sticking with people who you have known all your life. You start hanging out with people who have the same interests as you.
   
   

We took the big jump of moving from New Jersey allllll the way to Asheville, North Carolina, which is about 11 hours from everything we’ve ever known. Our friends, families, everything. We actually didn’t even know Asheville existed at first – I posted in a travel Facebook group that I am a part of basically just listing all of the things we were looking for in a place of living and asked everyone where they recommended we look into. This Facebook group had tens of thousands of extremely well traveled group members, so I figured instead of looking at a bunch of google lists and getting no where, lets ask the professionals! I made that post and had an overwhelming response of around 1000 comments, but an extremely common answer was Asheville, North Carolina – hundreds and hundreds of comments all saying the same city. Obviously we had to check it out!

After doing a ton of research, we found that those hundreds of comments nailed it right on the head. Asheville was exactly what we were searching for! Now we took the leap, and when I tell you it is the best decision we ever made, I genuinely mean it. All of the things that TJ and I talked about all those years about how we wanted more nature, more mountains, nicer people that we actually had things in common with, etc., we have found here in Asheville. I am so thankful I made that Facebook post, and for those hundreds of people that pointed me in the direction of living somewhere so so special.

If you are longing for more than your current city is able to give you, I 1000000% recommend making a post just like I did. Just join a travel Facebook group, make a post listing the things you’re looking for in a place of living and ask everyone where they recommend you check out, and get ready to find exactly where you’re meant to be.

If this blog post has encouraged you, or even given you more questions than you started with, that is so okay! This is a big jump and it’s understandable for it to be a little overwhelming. If you need a little more encouragement, or want to ask me any questions specifically, my emails and dm’s are open to you! I would love to hear all about it – hit us up and let’s get you living your absolute best life! :)