Where is Your Heart Through this Crazy Move?
Do you ever catch yourself amidst a move and realize you’re not feeling like yourself at all?
You’re so thrilled at the road ahead of you and the endless possibilities, but in the next moment find yourself staring at the guest restroom, shedding a tear at the memory of the first night you brought your puppy home?
On the one hand, you are about to experience freedom and change, but on the other hand, you don’t want to leave the first living room you shared as newlyweds.
Are You Sentimental?
My husband couldn’t care about any of this. Regardless of life’s memories, he’s not a sentimental person. My eyes can tear up just looking at a pair of movie stubs from eight years ago. I store them away as if they are a precious treasure!
If you’re anything like me and I know you probably are since you’re reading this article, take a deep breath and be kind to you. It’s okay to have more than one emotion flowing through your system. Times of change can be so tough, especially on some individuals.
Let’s take a deeper look at what could be going on.
Your Emotions
Whether you’re saying goodbye to a job of 6 months or 6 years, there’s going to be a degree of emotions you’ll experience when leaving. Essentially, you’re grieving. Be aware that there are stages in grieving and you will probably go through them during this moving process.
Feeling all kinds of emotions is inevitable as we become attached to routines, desks, people, scenery, restaurants, habits we build, you name it! You’ll be surprised to see there are bonds you didn’t even know existed. Whether you’re ready or not, all these routines will soon become new ones.
The main thing I always wished I could change was my one-hour commute to work and after turning in my office keys, on my last drive home, I bawled realizing I would never in my life do this commute ever again.
Be Patient With The Heart
Everyone has a heart. Be patient with yours as you leave all the familiar spots and go-to places in life. The route to the grocery store and the comforts of your office of many years will soon be a mere memory.
You can certainly re-visit and entertain these memories, but gone will be the day-to-day interactions you’ve been making for years. This is what happens with goodbyes.
Do not be surprised if you succumb to a constant mix of sadness, sentiment, and even anxiousness and panic.
Closing This Chapter Well
I wanted to close this chapter of my life well. I felt it was important to do specific things. Whether or not they were significant was not essential.
Do what you need to do to close the chapter of your life well.
For me, I kept small gifts I received from families whose kids I watched grow up. I took a photo of the first painting my husband and I bought when we first moved in together.
One month after the move, I noticed I haven’t needed to look at this photo. I’m still glad I took it.
Another thing you can do is to leave your contact information just in case your staff or neighbors want to reach out to you. Don’t burn bridges unless you know for certain it’s the best thing to do. Ask for ways to contact those you still want in your life moving forward.
The Simultaneous Goodbye-Hello State
This strange state of goodbye-hello will stay with you for some time. You’re saying good-bye to a home you cherished, but are now in another place and saying hello. Your heart will be, at least for a few weeks, pulled in different directions since you left part of it back home but are carrying it with you to try to create a new home.
Let yourself be in this temporary state. It’s okay to feel like a momentary maniac!
Take a deep breath or two, or three. Tell yourself this too shall pass!
Everything will be alright. Before you know it, you will be in the next chapter of your life.
