It has almost been a year since we have moved back to our homes and hometowns. Working from home, one day got me thinking, how I had left the comfort and luxury of my house, to go study in a place, where I don’t speak the dialect and had no friends.
It was scary at first to venture into a place where you didn’t know a soul, especially if you have been blessed with great friendships. But in hindsight, I think that it was a great decision and I would not have traded the experiences for the luxuries of being at home.
I duly cherish the experiences but stepping outside and living on my own helped me add the following feathers on my cap.
A Sense of Responsibility
Back at home, you have most of your stuff automated. You need not worry about your meals, laundry, cleaning. You are in a secure, well-protected shell. But when you move to a hostel or a new apartment, a sense of responsibility takes over. You will no longer be scolded for leaving your lights on or forgetting to switch on the TV. Instead, you will be handed an exorbitant bill.
Master of Basic Trades
You will learn to become a master of many trades, even the trades that are pretty basic.
One of my cousins rang my aunt on a Saturday morning, asking how to hand-wash delicate clothes. My aunt gave him explicit instructions that he meticulously followed stating separating the whites in a bucket, adding a small spoon of detergent followed by rubbing the clothes to get off any dirt.
The poor chap replied that it was impossible to wash a bucket of clothes in a spoon of detergent. After arguing for about 30 minutes, my aunt realized that she had not mentioned adding water and hence, his son was trying to rub a bucket of clothes in a spoon of detergent. We still have a good laugh about it.
Similarly, there will be times when you are sick of eating out. You will eventually light up the stove, either call your Mom or open a youtube channel and start cooking.
Navigating a city will be harder if you have always liked to stay indoors. There will be days when you will hate Google Maps when it takes you to an unknown destination. On other days, you will learn how to negotiate fares when charged seriously.
Perspective
You will have your shares of adventures and anecdotes. You will step into places that you did not know of and meet people who will either restore your faith in humanity or leave you broken. There will be good days, bad days and just days that pass by. But most importantly, you will become a person that you did not know existed. Your perspective will broaden and your personality will evolve.
So, if you are contemplating moving out of the house for the first time and afraid of the world that awaits outside, my advice would be to take the step in spite of the fear. Years later, when you will move back to your place, even if temporarily because of a pandemic, you will be proud of the person that you have become and grateful for your experiences.
