When thinking over the concept of “roots” and whether or not your identity is best nurtured in one spot, I think of this quote a friend once told me while I was studying abroad in Italy. It was two weeks into my trip and I was feeling homesick, so she told me, “There is no growth in a comfort zone and no comfort in a growth zone.” I am a big believer in traveling and learning more about yourself through your travels. However, I am kind of biased when it comes to this because I come from a family of travelers. All three of my parents (mom, dad, step-dad) work for the airlines. My mom has been to over 50 countries and comes back home each time with the most fascinating stories. So far, I have been to 7, but definitely plan on adding more stamps to my passport.
I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, but never plan on living there later in my life. My Mormon side lives there and will probably always live there, so I get to visit about ten times a year. That’s enough for me. As a kid we moved a lot. In addition to Utah, I’ve also lived in Minnesota, Southern and Northern California, and Oregon. While I didn’t always appreciate moving as a kid I am glad we did it now. I’ve learned something from each state and would say that I am a more well-rounded individual because of it.
Sometimes I wonder what I would have been like had I stayed in Southern California for example. I’ve lived in Oregon for almost ten years now and it has definitely shaped my identity to some degree. I don’t think I would have been as aware of my carbon footprint if I grew up in California. Maybe I would have, but maybe not. I’ll never know.
All I know is that everywhere I’ve lived and visited has made some sort of impact on my views and identity. These growth developments acquired through travel are part of my fluid identity, views that are constantly evolving as I travel. My fixed identity are aspects of myself that I know will not change, like the fact that I am female, a writer, a taco lover, and cat lady will always be a part of who I am.
When I think about the word “origin” as this place where I come from and will eventually return to I don’t necessarily think about it in like a physical sense. I think about it as a feeling, a feeling of both comfort and growth. Home is where I am loved and love others. Home is a place where I feel most alive. Home is wherever my family is, it’s paragliding in Switzerland, eating pizza in Italy, home is sitting on the couch with my cat while watching Parks and Recreation.
In the documentary Somewhere Between Haley Butler finds her Chinese family and learns a little bit more about her identity. I think sometimes people who come from different cultures feel as though they have to commit to one, but it’s totally fine to love and accept both because it’s what makes you you. Haley has several identities (she’s American, she’s from the south, she Chinese, she’s a high school student, etc) and it is a beautiful thing.
I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, but never plan on living there later in my life. My Mormon side lives there and will probably always live there, so I get to visit about ten times a year. That’s enough for me. As a kid we moved a lot. In addition to Utah, I’ve also lived in Minnesota, Southern and Northern California, and Oregon. While I didn’t always appreciate moving as a kid I am glad we did it now. I’ve learned something from each state and would say that I am a more well-rounded individual because of it.
Sometimes I wonder what I would have been like had I stayed in Southern California for example. I’ve lived in Oregon for almost ten years now and it has definitely shaped my identity to some degree. I don’t think I would have been as aware of my carbon footprint if I grew up in California. Maybe I would have, but maybe not. I’ll never know.
All I know is that everywhere I’ve lived and visited has made some sort of impact on my views and identity. These growth developments acquired through travel are part of my fluid identity, views that are constantly evolving as I travel. My fixed identity are aspects of myself that I know will not change, like the fact that I am female, a writer, a taco lover, and cat lady will always be a part of who I am.
When I think about the word “origin” as this place where I come from and will eventually return to I don’t necessarily think about it in like a physical sense. I think about it as a feeling, a feeling of both comfort and growth. Home is where I am loved and love others. Home is a place where I feel most alive. Home is wherever my family is, it’s paragliding in Switzerland, eating pizza in Italy, home is sitting on the couch with my cat while watching Parks and Recreation.
In the documentary Somewhere Between Haley Butler finds her Chinese family and learns a little bit more about her identity. I think sometimes people who come from different cultures feel as though they have to commit to one, but it’s totally fine to love and accept both because it’s what makes you you. Haley has several identities (she’s American, she’s from the south, she Chinese, she’s a high school student, etc) and it is a beautiful thing.