For much of my life, in times of strife, my default response was, “I wish I were somewhere else.” Abuse, loneliness, danger, poverty, extreme heat or cold, even just a general feeling of being a misfit would cause me to feel this way. If only I were elsewhere, things would be so much better.
Dorothy may have decided that there was no place like home, but I always thought that Oz looked like a lot more fun than that dreary farm in Kansas.
But it’s a dangerous thing, assuming there is a geographical solution to all your problems. It often gives you an excuse to avoid solving them. Because Elsewhere is an elusive place. If your solution lies elsewhere, and elsewhere is just out of reach, well, then you’re just out of luck, aren’t you? You may as well hunker down and be miserable.
Wishing you were somewhere else also means that where you are right now is never going to feel quite good enough. How can anyplace compete with this fantasy world that lies just on the other side of the rainbow?
But on the other hand, I do honestly think that life is what you make it, and part of choosing your path in life is deciding what destination you want to strive for. If I hadn’t opted to pack all my stuff and move 3100 miles across the country, I’d probably still be miserable in Florida, dreaming about elsewhere.
Instead, I live in the Seattle area, with a job that pays well, an amazing man who loves me, and a home for which there is no place like.
Lucky me. I finally found elsewhere. May you find your perfect place, too, dear reader, and may it be a little closer than 3100 miles from where you are right now.
An attitude of gratitude is what you need to get along. Read my book! http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5
The View from a Drawbridge 
Then there is the flip side.For most of my 76 years, I was content where I was. Never setting my sight or goals too high. The last 10 year’s have sent me spinning out of control. I am no longer comfortable in my own skin, trust in the future or anything else that should matter. Alas, I wish I was elsewhere.
I’m glad you had so much contentment in your life. I hope you will again. On the other hand, I’m glad you have found it within you to jump from airplanes. You’re an inspiration.
Much of it I owe to you and your Blog. You challenge me in so many ways. You also offer different views on difficult subjects, educated insight and sometimes Cockeyed optimism. You also show us that we are the one that will choose that given enough rope, we use it to hang ourself or swing from a star. You give me hope.
Wow. I’m really honored. But promise me that you’ll always save some of that credit for yourself, too, because you’re amazing. Never forget that.