An act of optimism

Moving to a new place from my familiar home is much harder than I could have understood. The hardest part is the loneliness that comes with not knowing more than a few people in a city of millions. It's becoming a small fish in a very large pond after being a whale in a bucket for years.

I lived in Tucson my whole life and had made many acquaintances especially in the two years prior to my relocation. I had a job that put me in the public eye and required me to meet and get to know many civic leaders, business owners and others. I was a community manager and spent a large portion of my time raising awareness of the organization that I worked for. That meant I was raising awareness of myself as a representative of that organization.

Now I am a face in the crowd and never bump into people I know while out getting a pint or catching some rays at the park on a sunny day. I don't get random hugs or high-fives.

I realized with certainty the second week I was here that had I not been intensely optimistic about this move I never would have made it. If I could have had an inkling of the psychological challenge of having so much time on my hands and struggling through shyness to meet people, I doubt I would have made this move. Perhaps I still would have moved but to a place where I have more people. When I set my sights on this move, a familiar  community was not my concern. It is San Francisco specifically that I am drawn to. Its climate and culture, architecture and landscape. Its big city energy and seemingly endless opportunities for innovation, creativity, work and play.

I do recommend–when you decide to move someplace new to pursue a dream–you move to a place with wonderful places to walk. Walking outside can do wonders for your mental health.