Life, and marriage have taken me to live on 2 continents in addition to North America, and to play house or something like it in 10 states, if counting where I was conceived. Vacation travel is great, but living far away from where I grew up really contributed the most to becoming an educated, understanding, compassionate, curious, problem solving human being. early gestation in Texas born in Missouri college in Colorado 1st honeymoon, such as it was, in Maryland, before returning to CO for more college then Wyoming for a bit and 2 places in South Korea (Kwangju and Osan) back to CONUS in Florida or what we called Baja Alabama over to West Germany promoted to Utah 2nd honeymoon in Louisiana moved to California ended up in Washington state I'd be curious to know if others credit living in a variety of locations around the world as having broadened their own education and ability to cope with life.
Being in a wide variety of groups was an unexpected way of finding out about the groups 'first hand' so to speak. (politic, medical, military, industry, engineering, religious). But it almost drove me insane (As also it was written Lot was sorely vexed). The Creator was very very Gracious Sparing my life, many times, and my sanity , for His Own Plan. Learning how to cope was entirely by His Grace, with no credit and no thanks to any of the groups.
I would have loved to have visited there when I was still up for international travel. Maybe next lifetime.
I love soaking in the diversity of lifestyles, cultures, history, belief systems, geography, etc. Very satisfying and mind-broadening. But to each their own.
Okay, this is a great start/ purpose/ goal, right ? With learning to cope with life / help others cope ?
Absolutely! I'm definitely a different person now than I would have been if I had stayed planted in the Midwest, where I was born and raised. I traveled a lot in Europe as a teen and started married life in a small town in Turkey, lived there 2 1/2 years, had my daughter in another Turkish city. We traveled to some wonderful places, met interesting people and had marvelous adventures. In my life, I've been to almost all the states in the US, and to South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. How could that NOT have changed me?
What fascinating stories you must have @Mary Robi . I found it enlightening to get out of my own Midwest perspective to get a more complete view of the complexities of multiple, intersectional realities humanity lives in every second around the world.
I was looking for this post to revise my comment . While true it didn't sound nice. Someone beat me to it. Thanks. I'll find the BP button all by myself.
I posted this in error. Got lost and didn’t realize till later, I was speaking of the wrong member. Amazing lives and experiences at any rate. Sorry.