When She Moved Somewhere She Knew No One

Moving where I knew no one taught me that home isn't found, it's built through courage, connection, and showing up, even on lonely days. In time, the unfamiliar became an invitation to grow.

I got a great job right away and started the next journey of my life!

Moving to a new city later in life has taught me that building a life and building a circle aren't necessarily the same thing. I'm still finding my people here, but I've learned that home can grow through exploring your community and creating a life you enjoy, while remembering that the friendships that matter most aren't defined by geography.

Connect with a local church, synagogue, faith group or any other affinity group.

In my career I've moved enough times to know that a new city can feel like you're looking through glass at a life everyone else already knows how to live. What helped me was getting curious and creating little pockets of connection through local meetup dinners, friendships at the local watering hole, community events, and simply finding places where people gathered until an unfamiliar city began to feel like somewhere I belonged.

Moving from Athens to Seattle taught me that belonging isn't something you find, it's something you build. What started as a few connections grew into a community that made Seattle feel like home.

I've started over in more cities than I can count, and loneliness never stood a chance once I found a rhythm: show up, connect, repeat, and when that stopped working, try something new but never stop trying. Even so, some of it wasn't mine to take credit for. I was welcomed into homes and families in ways I still can't explain, and I believe having a praying family behind me had everything to do with that.

Going back to school in my late 20s meant stepping into an unfamiliar environment without an established circle, and at first, self-doubt made me question whether I belonged. Now, returning to school again in my late 30s, I'm entering this chapter with greater confidence and comfort, knowing that showing up, building genuine connections, and embracing new opportunities can turn an unfamiliar place into a community where I can grow and truly feel at home.

When I've found myself in a new place without an established circle, I started by building genuine relationships, getting involved in the community, and being open to new experiences. Over time, those connections created a sense of belonging and turned an unfamiliar place into somewhere that truly felt like home.