When Home is a Stranger

I heard it said once that time and life are both like flowing rivers. You can get out and get back in but the water you touched once, you will never touch again. Though it is the same river, it will never be the same water.

I knew moving back to South Carolina was going to be a transition of sorts. I knew that even when I left, time kept moving. I knew home wouldn't be the same place I left.

After being here for a week now, I must say I grossly underestimated how much I had actually changed as well as the place I called home for most of my life.

Two words: Culture Shock.

I never once in my life expected to experience culture shock when it came to the place I consider home. I lived here for almost 22 years, how much could have changed in the last two years? Yes, I have experienced this type of mental confusion and indifference a couple of times before when it came to my world travels but this time was different.

This time, I was humbled by the fact that I had to admit I had "forgotten where I came from" as many have accused me of before. I am a stranger in the place I called home for so long.

I had forgotten that is socially acceptable and even expected to say, "sir" and "mam" following my "yes" and "no".

I had forgotten that people are eager to be hospitable every where you go and it is authentic and genuine, not strange.

I had forgotten the idea of living in a place of racial diversity. I love that there are so many different cultures in this little place.

I had forgotten that religion is a deep rooted aspect of life here, and traditions die really hard in the church.

I had forgotten that humidity exist. 

I had forgotten that many people here share similar ideologies when it comes to politics and religion. I am now in the minority, and that is ok. I've learned to respect differences.

I had forgotten that the pace of life is just all around slower. This isn't a bad thing, just something I have to get used to. 

I had forgotten the small "town-ness", where every one knows you and your business.

These are just a list of some of the things I have noticed over the past week. I will say though that this experience is allowing to rediscover and fall in love again with a place that molded me. Yes I may have forgotten these things, but now I am eager to learn them. Just like the river, I am no longer the same person that left SC for Colorado. I have grown. I have learned. I have changed. My ideas have changed. My political ideologies have changed and I would even go as far as to say I don't fit the mold anymore for your typical "Southern Evangelical"....but all of that is good. The only constant in life is change.

I now move forward, taking it all in, while honoring my past as well. I am a product of my surrounding thus far and I eagerly anticipate the man I will continue to grow into. I will continue to grow and I will continue to change just as this idea of home will also continue to grow and continue to change.

The great thing about rivers are, no matter where you get in or out, sooner or later, you'll end where all in the same place so embrace the change and enjoy the ride.

I miss Colorado and its beauty. Please do not take this list of things as an insult to Colorado because it is not. There are genuine and authentically nice people there as well. It is just different.