Live Deliberately: Loving Where You Live

I know plenty of people who can make home anywhere. They want their friends and families around and the place is not their biggest concern.

I learned a long time ago that I was not that kind of person. I spent a lot of time in my 20s and 30s trying to find the one place on this planet that made me feel happy.

So I traveled. I went to all kinds of places here in the US. I visited Italy and Ireland.  And I took an opportunity to move to Atlanta, Georgia when it was presented to me.

I was very lucky to find what I was looking for in Asheville, North Carolina.

I could tell you about all the amazing things that I love about Asheville. I can tell you about how the mountains honestly make me more calm and at ease. I can tell you about the people in this small but not small town and how there is a real sense of community here. I can tell you all about the amazing food and beer.

But this post is not about that.

I believe that there is a place, or maybe a bunch of places, that are right for every individual. Places where you feel like you belong.

Here are a couple things that I have learned along the way.

1. Once you find a place the rest can be figured out.
2. The place can't fix things for you.
3. The place makes you a better person.

You are the only person who can know how you feel when you arrive in the place you were meant to be. Other people can tell you about how much they love where they live but they can't make you fall in love with it.

When you find the place you feel like you are meant to live the rest will fall into place. You can find a job or make a living. You can find a home. You can find a community. It may not be easy, but loving the place where you are will help with the adjustment.

If something is not right in your life the place itself can't fix it for you. In other words, you can't run away from your problems. They will catch up with you. Don't use a move as a substitute for improving your life.

You will know you're in the right place for you if it makes you want to be a better person. Do you want to become a part of the community? Do you want to get involved? Do you want to make it a better place? Once a place gets under your skin it is hard to give it up. Whenever you're away you can't help but thinking of going home. 

Do you love where you live? If not, what do you think would be ideal for you?