Coach Andrew Harrington

As I moved into my new apartment this last week, I spent a lot of time reflecting. Moving into a new chapter of your life is always nerve-wracking, but this time, I have not felt that way. Yes, there was the initial stress of sorting out how to get three metric tons of furniture and clothes from Point A to Point B. That short-term stress is different from the long-term stress of a new living situation, though.

Perhaps it is because my life is not dramatically changing. The move was just 20 minutes, I still have the same job, and my routine will not change. With that being said, there is more to it than that.

Moving on is one of the hardest things to do in life. When you come out of a tough time, whether it be the loss of a family member, losing a job or things just not going your way, you tend to remember that for a long time. When everything seems to be going right, it is sometimes impossible to enjoy the good times equally or more than you dwell on the bad times.

That is why moving on is both one of the most important and difficult things in life. Humans enjoy dwelling on the good times because those are the best memories they have. We also struggle to forget the tough times we have gone through because our animalistic instincts require us to remember them so that we do not repeat the same mistakes. Thousands of years ago that likely meant remembering routines to avoid predators for survival, but while completely different, those instincts are still there today. Those skills are still important in the present day. After all, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. The key to life is not forgetting all of the bad things that have ever happened to you. The key is no longer asking yourself what you could have done differently, providing closure for your own mind.

Remembering the great memories of your life is also vital; however, if you do not get out there and make new memories, the old ones will be all you ever have.

How does all of this relate to my anxiety about the move? Well, moving to a new place and living with a new roommate would have been difficult in years passed. Now, I could not be more excited. Thinking back to each location I have lived over the years digs up a different set of memories, good and bad. Starting this chapter means a whole new slate of good times and bad that will flood my mind each time I unlock that front door.