​​Being forced to leave the place where I have lived all my life, at least for someone like me, a person who enjoys a peaceful lifestyle and is content with the status quo, one cannot help but be filled with feelings of reluctance, nostalgia, and even a sense of rejection.

Ultimately, after the final decision was made, I went to several departments to fill out the departure paperwork, packed all my belongings into four boxes, and then, when evening fell, I reluctantly went to the place I used to work, called my boss to tell them the news, all the while struggling to hold back my tears and feelings of sadness.

For a long time after I came to America, I was still struggling with that sense of inner turmoil inside of me. What could I do here? Everything is so unfamiliar to me. Since as long as I could remember, I have always been sheltered by my teachers and colleagues - never venturing far from my school campus or daring to mix into larger society. Perhaps they did their job too well - I grew accustomed to their protection and guidance - their easy-going tolerance of my mistakes and oversights made me feel safe. 

Because I was always entangled in my reminiscence of the past, I met with various people to talk about my feelings of sadness and aimlessness. Luckily, these people would always tell me gently that everything will be okay. Who knows what the future will bring, but I believe my luck won't stop there. 

Instead of mourning the past, why not embrace the future? Ever since then, I started to look at things from a different perspective and began to really observe the world all around me. I'm trying to take it all in, and see this as part of a long journey, viewing everything through a tourist’s eyes, without passing judgment, letting myself be open to surprise, while learning to appreciate every aspect of being in this new country. 

Taking on this adventurer’s mentality - that of someone just passing through, can make our tightly-wound selves feel more relaxed, allowing us to stretch out and reduce our feelings of tension. Only then can we embrace life fully, and live enthusiastically. 

If you also find yourself in a similar state of mind, give this a try - allow yourself to take a long-distance trip without changing your final destination.

被迫离开生活了一辈子的地方，对于一个安于现状，又极其恋旧的我来说，大抵是不情愿的，伤感的，乃至于拒绝的。所以当最后确定，跑了十几个部门敲完了离职图章，再把整整一个屋子，收拾成四个箱子，然后在天黑之后偷偷跑到原来的工位，给老板打了个电话，泣不成声时，居然有一点悲壮。

来美国后的很长一段时间，我都还在和内心的那种拒绝斗争。我在这里能干什么呢？所有的一切都太过陌生了。从记事开始我就没有离开校园，踏入过社会，而我的师长和同事，又把我保护的太好，让我总是习惯了找到羽翼躲闪，犯错与失误也总是被包容。因为纠结于过去，我和各种人见面，聊我的苦闷，聊我的迷茫。而幸运的是，这些人总是温柔的告诉我，一切都会好的。谁知道呢，但是我相信你的幸运，不会止步于此。

与其哀怨，不如拥抱。于是我开始换了一种视角，开始看待生活的周遭。我尝试学习把这一切看做我的长途旅行，像游客一样，不带成见的，充满惊奇地去认真的体认这个国家的点点滴滴，方方面面。而且恰恰是这种过客的心态，让紧紧包裹起来的自己，居然慢慢地舒展了开来，投入地，热烈地生活了。

如果你也恰恰处于这样的状态，不妨，尝试看看，来一场不换坐标的长途旅行吧。