Summary

A woman recounts her transformative journey of self-discovery and independence after moving to the US from Slovakia, leaving behind her ex-husband and children.

Abstract

The author shares a personal narrative of her decision to move to the US, a choice that led to significant personal growth. Initially unprepared for life in a new country, she learned to navigate challenges independently, which fundamentally changed her perspective on happiness, priorities, and self-reliance. She emphasizes the importance of creating one's own happiness, the value of transparency in communication, and the acceptance of life's unpredictability. The move also shifted her focus from material possessions to cherishing meaningful experiences with loved ones. Her story is one of resilience, adaptability, and the profound impact of stepping out of one's comfort zone.

Opinions

The author believes that happiness is not a passive experience but something that one must actively pursue.
She expresses that independence is crucial and that taking responsibility for one's life leads to personal strength and self-trust.
The narrative suggests that material possessions are not the key to happiness; instead, simple joys and relationships are what truly matter.
The author advocates for honesty and transparency in expressing one's feelings and opinions, rather than conforming to others' expectations.
She conveys that embracing change and uncertainty is essential for personal growth and avoiding future regrets.
The author maintains that instead of complaining, one should take action to improve their life circumstances.

How Life in The US Changed Me

The story of leaving my ex and my kids and moving to the US

About 14 years ago, I decided to move to the US and start a new life, leaving my ex-husband and two teenage children behind. It may seem like a wild decision, but don’t worry; my kids joined me two years later.

Living in a different country without knowing the language or anything about the US has taught me a lot. During my time there, I’ve experienced good and bad times while exploring, learning, and having fun.

I’ve learned much about myself, Americans, hard work, kindness, gratefulness, staying humble, and independence.

I am very grateful every day for this decision. I wonder if this situation will happen again if I will make it.

Before my trip to the USA, I had no idea where I was going or what would happen in the future. One thing I did know was that staying where I was would be the worst choice, so I took a chance and moved.

However, I quickly realized how unprepared I was. I had a lot to learn, and life taught me new daily lessons I recognized and learned from them. Since living in the US, I have changed radically.

I choose happiness

Happiness doesn’t come to those who wait for it. I’ve been thinking about why I wasn’t happy in life before. I realized that I had to stop waiting for happiness and instead get up and create it for myself.

I made decisions that never would have happened if I had just waited and stayed home and complained about my life.

It started changing my life by leaving my country, and with that, I left the things that were holding me back.

The lesson I learned is if you want something to change, you have to go out there and create change, whether moving to another country, traveling, or anything else. Do not let anything hold you back.

I became independent

Back in Slovakia, I relied on my ex-husband for many things; he would arrange what needed to be done, and I was free from those things.

When I moved to the US, I realized that these things were over, and I would have to take care of everything myself.

I stopped relying on others to avoid feeling weak and dependent.

Now, I am independent and take care of anything I need. I feel strong, and I trust myself like never before. I wouldn’t have changed if I hadn’t gone to the US.

I have changed my priorities

Over time, I have found that my priorities have changed and are no longer what they were 14 years ago.

It’s not clothes, a new car, electronics, or other material. Those empty things are no longer important to me now.

I used to think that material things would make me happy, but I’ve found that they never have and never will.

I’ve realized that the simple things in life bring me the most happiness.

Spending quality time with my boyfriend or kids, taking photos of beautiful sunsets, enjoying a delicious meal with loved ones, and sharing hearty laughs are priceless.

Being surrounded by people who accept and love me for who I am is what truly matters.

I’ve learned not to waste my time on things that don’t matter. Life becomes more fulfilling when you prioritize what’s important and focus on what truly matters.

I started to be more truthful and transparent than ever before

In the past, I used to say ‘yes’ to make others happy, even when I wanted to say ‘no.’ It made me unhappy. I didn’t realize I was doing this because I didn’t value myself enough.

But now, I can express my opinions and feelings politely and calmly. I no longer need to please everyone at the expense of my happiness. I do what I believe is right.

I no longer struggle with what life brings me

You know when you want something badly, and the opposite happens? We all experienced that.

But what seems like the worst can actually turn out to be the best; it just takes some time. Now, I no longer cry or worry and accept things as they are.

I am not scared of change

We must be open to new experiences and embrace discomfort to make real change.

When I was only living a comfortable life without trying anything new, I felt unfulfilled and like I wasn’t really living. It may sound familiar, but it’s a feeling of being stuck in one place.

I spent days and weeks wondering if my dreams should remain just dreams. Back then, I had no idea if my decision to live in the US would be good. However, I decided to take a chance and avoid any future regrets.

There will always be uncertainty and doubt when we make big decisions. But one day, when we look back at our journey, we’ll realize that everything we went through was worth it in the end.

I don’t complain, even when things aren’t ideal

I used to complain and feel sorry for myself in the past, thinking it would help me somehow.

However, I have learned that complaining doesn’t solve anything. Instead, we need to take action and be responsible for our lives.

We have the power to shape our lives the way we want them to be.

If you don’t like your life, change it. If you are unhappy where you live, move. Don’t complain because no one else is responsible for the way you choose to live. There are no excuses for that.