Written by: Zachary Hoffman, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Those of us who have had the opportunity to leave the comforts of our hometown and travel understand the power it can have on one self-development. I see travel like any other drug, can become addicting. Once we understand all this world has to offer is human nature to want to explore it even more. And while this can be an amazing experience and create memories that define what life is truly about, There comes a point in time where it can be more of a detriment rather than a benefit. In this article, I will outline three lessons that I’ve learned from my 10 years living in six different countries. While I’ve learned much more than these three lessons, they are the ones that stick out to me when I look back on my time abroad and my time in my current state.
1. There is no place like home
What I’ve come to realize is that at the end of the day, while I have certainly seen and experienced many places in the world that were much more exciting than the realms of my hometown, at the end of the day I have at times forgotten my roots. Do not forget where you came from and do not resent where you came from either. It doesn’t matter where you currently stand in your life, the bottom line is your home has shaped your morals and your foundation as a person. Do not resent that and make sure to always be proud of where you came from regardless of the experiences you may have had in that place.
2. Make a Decision and do not look back
One decision made with conviction is better than ten potentially great ones. Those of us who are blessed to have traveled abroad, lived in a different culture, learned a foreign language, and built a life in a new place understand that this process can be repeated over and over again. I often found myself pondering the possibilities of moving to a new country or a new city and recreating myself once again. I always found so much excitement in the thought of moving to a new place where nobody knew who you were and having the ability to hit the restart button on life. While this process is certainly and can be an amazing learning experience, at the end of the day I have learned that the best option is to make a decision and go for it 100%. Because eventually you will come to a point in your life where maybe you have a lot of connections in multiple places but you do not have anything stable to rely on in terms of your career, genuine friendships, and a place to call your true home.
3. Reverse Culture Shock is Real
Growing up in rural Pennsylvania I couldn’t have been more Americanized before I traveled overseas. However, after spending nearly a quarter of my life in Europe, I have certainly changed. My ideals, morals, and overall outlook on life are different. And I’ve noticed that every time I come back home to America I feel more and more out of place. I’m sure others who have experienced a similar type of lifestyle can relate. One thing we have to realize is that when we step out of our comfort zone and move to a new place, a personal growth and reshaping process it’s a natural byproduct of our experiences. This growth process will allow us to see things from a different perspective. Often that perspective can cause people to feel out of place when returning to their own country.
When I look back on my time overseas I have recreated myself multiple times. What I’ve come to realize is that we humans are capable of becoming whoever we want to be. Nonetheless, this process has to come from within. A lot of people connect travel with personal growth and positive change. While this is certainly a part of it, at the end of the day that change has to come from within oneself. Quoting Jim Kwik, “If an egg is broken by an external force, life ends. If it is broken by an inner force, life begins. Great things always start from the inside.” Travel can open doors to change and growth, but at the end of the day we have to be willing to walk through that door. By this I mean we have to be willing to adapt ourselves and totally buy into a new culture in order to experience this growth to the fullest. We cannot expect people to adjust to our desires.
During my time living in France, I came across a proverb that states: “Wherever you are planted, bloom with Grace.” I feel like this is such a powerful statement that often gets forgotten due to our human nature. A lot of us are always looking for that next promotion, that next relationship, or that next city that will be better than our current one. However at the end of the day regardless of where we are planted, it is up to us how we decide to live and become the person we want to be. Your current state is not a product of your location or surroundings, it is a product of your attitude in terms of making the best of it or committing to a change you genuinely want.
I consider myself a truly blessed individual. I can honestly say that I am content in a lot of ways with my life to this point. I have had so many privileges and opportunities that not many people dare to pursue. Nevertheless, I will say a part of me regrets some of the mistakes I’ve made along the way. And those mistakes still stick with me today. But they stick with me as a major part of the person I am and am becoming. At the end of the day, I understand the power of uprooting yourself in terms of creating a life of meaning and fulfillment. To travel is to truly live. So I encourage everyone to pursue this opportunity and experience the wonders that come with it. But always be proud of where you came from because whether you want to believe it or not, that place will always be a part of you.
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Zachary Hoffman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Zac is an Italian/American dual citizen, effective leadership developer, award winning author, and former professional American football player. Originally from a small, rural town in Western Pennsylvania (USA), he has spent his twenties living in 6 different countries while playing and coaching American football. During his time abroad, he developed the SWALeadership concept based on his many thrilling and eye-opening experiences within various leadership roles across cultures.
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