I am packing books, taking down wall decorations, and loading boxes, for the third summer in a row. In a few weeks, I am moving again.
Some people are good at moving, enjoy it even—maybe not so much the physical act of getting all of their belongings from one place to another—but they relish the idea of a new place, whether it be the same general area they started in or a whole new city, state, or country.
These people are what I have come to think of as “Bird People.” Winged, easily moving from one place to another.
Photo Credit: Flickr User Broo_Am (Andy B), Creative Commons
I think I am a tree.
Meant to be rooted, deeply, though with branches spreading wide.
We Tree People don’t do so well with the Moving. Every time, it’s not simply a matter of putting physical objects into boxes and vehicles and transporting them to a location; it’s disentangling my complicated feelings about this transient phase of life I’m in, why I’m in it, how I’m pretty sure I’d prefer to not be in it exactly as I am, but not really knowing how to solve it—or even if I’m supposed to solve it, because maybe I’m just supposed to live it.
Moving is a messy business for Tree People. Even if the roots haven’t had years and years to grow, they’ve started. And each move is a transplant.
Sometimes I wish I were a Bird Person. It would make this moving easier, even exciting, instead of so laborious and weighty. But I suppose there are complexities with that way of life that I cannot see from my view.
It takes me a while to settle in a new house, to hang my decorations on the wall and begin to make the mental shift to know what I mean when I tell someone “I’m going home.”
As many times as I’ve now tried, defining home is still tricky. I’m always trying to conjure up this feeling of home, one that’s not tied to the people I’m with because that is constantly changing as well, but to define it in a way that fits me and where I’m at. Home, for me, is a word I want to evoke feelings of warmth, comfort, and coziness, but I’m not quite there.
I’m still figuring out what to do with these roots of mine.
Til next time…
~Brianna!~
p.s. Are you a Bird Person, or a Tree Person?
The Art of Becoming 
Not sure if I’m either. With the exception of my current situation I have moved every 2 years for the past 10 years. And even with my current situation I had a roommate who moved out within a year and a half so even though I stayed in the same place I had to re-adjust to the home. One thing I will say I have never felt “rooted” in my city but Im learning my roots have more to do with my community. Tx for sharing!
I’m totally a Bird person! but it’s been a learned thing. I lived in the same town for the first 17 years of my life. And then I got married and we’ve moved almost every 6 months for the past 7 years. And not because my husband’s in the military or anything. Just because God likes to keep changing our life circumstances so that we keep trusting and relying on Him! We’re packing right now too so I’ll be praying for a gentle transplant for you. Also I love this quote by CS Lewis ‘we know God will do what’s best for us. We’re just afraid of how painful his best will be.’ It helps me remember that when things are painful He is in control.