I have an adage in my life: maximising major changes in life to only one (1).
Late 2024, a friend bought a house in Spain and left the Netherlands. My friend speaks adequate Spanish and had visited that region for many years, albeit as a Dutch tourist. My friend should have “grounded” but did not.
Change in life is usually about family, friendship, house, relationship, study, and/or work. Major changes are about moving abroad, not being a native in the local language, and not having work. Then it’s easy to get lost.
Within weeks, my friend informed me about feeling homesick. I underestimated that as it’s an unknown feeling. Actually, my friend had entered a depression due to too many changes (eg, emigration, family, friends, house, relationship, work).
Recently, we reconnected after a “silence” of some 18 months. It feels as if my friend had never left. We spoke for 4-5 hours and agreed a follow-up meeting.
In 2024, I visited Panicale in Umbria. One of my reasons was a potential future migration. I felt happy there because life is slow. Nevertheless, I decided that my future emigration was off the table. Too many changes.
In 2014, I visited the Dominican Republic. My hotel was frequently visited by Dutch emigrants. Latter was my wake-up call because those Dutch emigrants neither looked happy nor healthy, despite a low cost of living.
To some extent, the English emigrants in Panicale also didn’t look very happy and healthy. Alcohol seemed to lift their spirits, next to cigarettes. My friend made a similar comment about the Dutch emigrants residing in Spain.
My friend made a special comment about feeling a lack of meaning in life, after emigration. In 2016, I wrote my blog the meaning of life is living a meaningful life. I think, feel and believe this blog was also key in cancelling my future emigration.
“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
A quote by Roy T. Bennett (b.1963), author of The Light in the Heart
Too Many Changes (2002) by The Badlees
band, lyrics, video, Wiki-band, Wiki-album+song
Too many changes
Too many changes at the same time
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise
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