Relocating from California to Chile recently has been a deeply transformational experience for me. I’m still adjusting to my new surroundings and trying to establish a life with my husband here..it helps that his family & friends live close by. I’m so relieved to be out of the US and starting over, although I’m missing my old routines, favorite places and family & friends. Definitely helps me stay positive when I reflect on WHY I left, one reason being to simplify my life, as it was way too stressful & hectic in CA. I’ve absolutely been stretched to the limit learning a new language and culture and I’m hoping it gets a bit easier and I feel like I’m “home” sometime soon..but I’m really proud of myself for taking the leap!
My husband and I are in a decision making process right now and it is HARD. He is dual UK/US and I am US/Canadian. We are considering a move back to the UK (we are in the U.S.). Jobs, kids and stability keep us rooted here but there at many reasons to move back to the UK. We are stuck as to what the right choice is. Our youngest is a freshman in high school, so it’s complicated and our older 2 aren’t keen to join us in the UK, at least in the short term. *sigh*
Having lived through several expatriations, I’ve experienced both sides: the illusion that a new place will change everything… and the quiet realization that what truly travels with you is yourself.
In each move, I always found fuel for growth. But it never came from comfort. It came from stretching, adapting, and learning to stand on new ground again and again. Over time, flexibility became one of my superpowers. So did empathy: the ability to read people, cultures, and unspoken codes.
Moving can be an extraordinary catalyst for growth, but only when it comes from intention, not escape.
Each relocation asked me deeper questions:
– What part of me am I willing to show more?
– What part of me is asking to emerge?
– And what kind of life am I actually trying to design?
Because a new country doesn’t automatically give you clarity, belonging, or peace - often, it’s the opposite at first. But it is precisely your willingness to seek clarity, to build belonging, and to create inner peace that transforms the experience.
For me, this journey eventually led to a professional reinvention: becoming an image consultant (a profession I can carry with me anywhere). Today, I work especially with expatriate women, and more broadly with women navigating transitions: personal, professional, or both.
Relocation can become a powerful mirror: one that invites you to redefine who you are, what you value, and how you choose to show up.
Relocating from California to Chile recently has been a deeply transformational experience for me. I’m still adjusting to my new surroundings and trying to establish a life with my husband here..it helps that his family & friends live close by. I’m so relieved to be out of the US and starting over, although I’m missing my old routines, favorite places and family & friends. Definitely helps me stay positive when I reflect on WHY I left, one reason being to simplify my life, as it was way too stressful & hectic in CA. I’ve absolutely been stretched to the limit learning a new language and culture and I’m hoping it gets a bit easier and I feel like I’m “home” sometime soon..but I’m really proud of myself for taking the leap!
Congrats on your move Lorissa. It’s a huge transition that will stretch you in all the best way. ❤️
My husband and I are in a decision making process right now and it is HARD. He is dual UK/US and I am US/Canadian. We are considering a move back to the UK (we are in the U.S.). Jobs, kids and stability keep us rooted here but there at many reasons to move back to the UK. We are stuck as to what the right choice is. Our youngest is a freshman in high school, so it’s complicated and our older 2 aren’t keen to join us in the UK, at least in the short term. *sigh*
This resonates deeply with me.
Having lived through several expatriations, I’ve experienced both sides: the illusion that a new place will change everything… and the quiet realization that what truly travels with you is yourself.
In each move, I always found fuel for growth. But it never came from comfort. It came from stretching, adapting, and learning to stand on new ground again and again. Over time, flexibility became one of my superpowers. So did empathy: the ability to read people, cultures, and unspoken codes.
Moving can be an extraordinary catalyst for growth, but only when it comes from intention, not escape.
Each relocation asked me deeper questions:
– What part of me am I willing to show more?
– What part of me is asking to emerge?
– And what kind of life am I actually trying to design?
Because a new country doesn’t automatically give you clarity, belonging, or peace - often, it’s the opposite at first. But it is precisely your willingness to seek clarity, to build belonging, and to create inner peace that transforms the experience.
For me, this journey eventually led to a professional reinvention: becoming an image consultant (a profession I can carry with me anywhere). Today, I work especially with expatriate women, and more broadly with women navigating transitions: personal, professional, or both.
Relocation can become a powerful mirror: one that invites you to redefine who you are, what you value, and how you choose to show up.
That, to me, is where real transformation begins.
Ahh you’ve summed up why I’ve rename this Substack to Global Life Project. It’s all about intention. Nothing is automatic.