why i decided to sell everything and move abroad

So last night I got the best Snapchat message from a person that I think is AWESOME! Gloria Atanmo, who we affectionately call Glo!

Glo absolutely spoke into my life and I began to see why I sold all of my belongings and moved abroad to teach.

I will tell you one thing, this decision was something that not everyone agreed with.  I have a house back in the states, Tennessee,  that my best friend is renting from me.  I have things from when I was living in Orlando that is in storage. These are the items that I was gifting, that even for FREE no one came to get. FREE people!!

Now, I sold everything that I could sell.  When I couldn’t sell I was giving things away.  Mind you I do have only two pieces of furniture left: a headboard that my close friend purchased for me and my dresser that my Mum said that I could not sell or give away. Sentimental value she says. lol!

But why? Why not?!

Moving to China has helped me to realize many things about myself.

You have to find yourself

Oh you hear this from people all the time. “Who am I?” “What is the meaning to life?” These are serious questions actually.  These are questions that I have asked myself.

I was tired.  I was tired of the direction that my life was going. I knew what I wanted for myself.  I had goals and they were written down, but I was in a place of contentment. I was settling for things that I should not have been.

Drop the Routine.

I was doing the same doggon thing EVERYDAY! I was caught in the daily 9-5 7:30 – 4:30, forgot I was on a teacher schedule.  Sometimes this also meant going in early or staying late.  Late means sometimes until 10pm! I didn’t mind it, but…never mind I did mind it. I don’t like the rat race. Hell, I don’t like running. Ask anyone that knows me! Marla and running does NOT go hand in hand.

New Start

DUH! No one knows who I am. I can start over.  I can be who I’ve always wanted to be. There are no rumour mills or whispering. Now, at times it does get lonely and that’s ok.  This is a time for me to meet new people, make new friends, and build world wide connections that I can use later on in life.

 

Stuff is not everything

I only have the clothes that I came with. NOTHING else. Matter of fact, back in the states I have about 5 boxes with teacher things that no one would come pick up.  I have learned that those materialistic items mean absolutely nothing.  Don’t get me wrong I do cherish the gifts that I get from framily (friends and family), but I do now realize that happiness is NOT about what I have, but about the experiences had in life.

You can learn get familiar with a new language

You see that I got rid of the LEARN and said get familiar with.  I’ve only been in China for 7 months and the language barrier still gets to me, however I’ve become familiar with certain words and sayings and I’m able to get around.

There are some people who are quick learners, but I will say this learning a new language is a struggle. Mandarin is MAD hard, but it gets easier everyday and I’m told that my tones are GREAT. 🙂

Different cultures and traditions

This is the best hands down!

So here in China when people say “Ok” it’s not just “ok” it’s “ok ok ok ok” really fast.  I find myself doing this now.

In India it was saying yes with you head. In western countries we nod our head up and down in agreement. In India the head goes from side to side.

I was in India for two weeks and now I find myself  doing this as well.

Rewarding

In the end you will love who you have become. I know that I am loving myself more and more each day.  Of course some people back home may not understand, but that’s ok.

Be you. Be Free.