“Seek community and routine.” This is the calm counsel I got during some challenging times after I moved, alone, to my current stomping grounds – Vancouver, Canada. That advice came from a military member. He was expected to move as seamlessly as possible every few years into a new physical and cultural context. Each move came with a new role, new home, and demands for energy and consistency on tap. He crisscrossed America with his wife, children, cat, and canine in the service of his country more than a dozen times, and counting in his career. As a family, they learned that seeking community and taking solace in familiar routines, was key.
Being less disciplined than my colleague, I’m currently coming up short on community and lagging a bit on the implementation of routine. But, I do have a plan and I’ll share some of the tips.