People think I'm lying whenever I say this. I really have moved 17 times in my life and I'm only 17. Moving has given me a lot of advantages and a lot of "fresh starts". I moved cities, states, and across the country quite recently. And it's taught me a lot.
My Dad was in construction the last 20 years and we moved wherever the cities were growing. He's now in an office job because, as anyone would imagine, 20 years of construction can be really hard on you.
Here are 5 things moving has taught me.
1. The first thing moving taught me was to become adaptable. I've become friends with people from all walks of life and gained the ability to love both bubbly and dry humor. I'm by no means a "social butterfly", I can just be a "social chameleon" while staying true to myself of course.
2. I realized that friendships can have 4+ year gaps without breaking a bond. My best friend for eleven years and I talked the other day for three and a half hours. Catching up with her on our crazy lives and it was like nothing changed. We didn't talk previous to this for 3 years.
3. It becomes easier to grow apart from people. Sometimes there isn't a "gap", the connection just ends. The friendship didn't end, I just learned that some people are only there for a perfect moment in your life. Those people aren't any less important to me. We don't talk as often but I will always call them a friend, and they have called out of the blue just to remind me they still care too.
4. I forever have a great conversation starter. When People meet me they often ask "Where are you from?" and my response is "All over". More often than not I the people I meet have been or have family in the states/cities I have lived in.
5. I perfected my elevator pitch at age 8. This was unintentional. The older I get the more I add on or take off the now uninteresting parts though. An example would be "Hi, my names Mia. I've moved over 15 times and started being homeschooled in high school. I plan on working in marketing, but I'm open to any opportunity that comes along." It gets adjusted depending on the situation, of course.
a quick list of the every house move, city move, or state move in order. I moved to the same states to be closer to family multiple times or started out in an apartment and then bought a house.
Everett, WA
Colorado
Colorado(different city)
Rapid City, SD
Colorado
Colorado(different city)
Arlington, WA
Washington(different city)
South Dakota
Colorado
Lacy, WA
Rapid City, SD
Washington
Florida
South Carolina
Clermont, FL
Florida (current)
Mia Mason