PROPERTYSPARK ARTICLE

A Moving Journey – How Military Teens Embrace Change with Courage

Life as a military brat is like being on a roller coaster that doesn’t know how to stop. You’re stuck in a perpetual motion of packing and unpacking, leaving behind friends for unfamiliar faces, and trading the comfort of the known for the unknown. But therein lies the charm, perhaps – the constant unraveling of the excitement and mystery that accompanies every move.

Adapt like a Chameleon Changes Colors

“Change is the name of the game,” says Ruth Van Reken, expert, and co-author of “Third Culture Kids: Growing up Among Worlds.” Moving can’t just be a word in your vocabulary; it needs to become second nature, your second language. You will weave in and out of states, countries, continents. And each time, you’ll leave a footprint behind, take a memory with you, and change, a part of you will change, endlessly — like a chameleon altering its colors.

The Art of Packing and Unpacking

Just like a well-rehearsed ballet, every move requires a rhythm, a careful execution of steps. The process begins with packing: the systematic gathering of your life into boxes. It’s a lot like Tetris, isn’t it? It’s a stack of accumulated memoirs, appliances, trinkets, and clothes that fit together in the most unlikely of ways. The New York Times reported, “…the organization is key to a smooth move”. Organizing is an art form you will master. You will classify books, toys, clothes, and even memories, into dedicated boxes.

And then comes unpacking, the process of unboxing a new life in a new place. It’s like unwrapping a gift; except, you packed this gift yourself, but it seems almost foreign now, as if days or weeks or months of travel have endowed these everyday objects with an aura of newness.

The Role of Movers – Your Nomadic Partners

Like trusted sidekicks, Bay Area moving company will facilitate this complex dance of packing and moving. They pack, load, transit, and unload while ensuring the safety of your goods, so you can focus on the emotional aspects of the move. They are the pulling force that helps you relocate.

Seek Solace in the Unsettling

An article published in the Guardian mentions, “Frequent transitions can be a challenge…” But amidst the incessant change, you need to find your anchor. It could be the routines you establish, the rituals you follow, or the constants you carry: a favorite book, a treasured blanket, a cherished toy.

Create Bridges, not Walls

Network. Interact. Engage. If not the writing on the wall, consider this a post-it note on your fridge. Friendships will feel like sand slipping through fingers, but erase that metaphor. Instead, think of it as water. Yes, it slips out, but always flows back in some way.

Dr. Amanda Spray, a clinical psychologist from the NYU Langone Military Family Clinic, advises, “Connect with others in the same situation as you…” So, seek out peers, engage with neighborhood squatters, connect with classmates; after all, you are all sailors in the same boat, ebbing and flowing with the tide of military movements.

A New Day, a New Adventure

With every new day, you get a bunch of new experiences, heaps of unknowns, and tons of opportunities. Embrace this wild ride because it’s not just about where you end up, but all the amazing things that happen along the way. Get in sync with the dance of meeting new folks and saying goodbye, of packing up and then starting all over again. Because that’s just how life rolls when you’re part of a military family.