Roots of Change: Finding Hope Beyond Borders

Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay

I never think of my life as something that anyone would envy. I seem to be the one who is envious. I would scan Instagram and see Americans who have made the move to other countries and thought to myself, “I want to do that!”

As I make preparations to move to Europe, I am reminded of my privilege. Not everyone can pick up roots and move out of the United States. My decision to move came when I realized that I cannot wake up with anxiety and nausea for the next four years. Or more if the current President-Elect has his way.

I feel betrayed by the U.S. and all the voters who chose to vote for hate and fear, including members of my family. I am angry and scared. I want to scream to the rooftops. I don’t want to live in a country where one half of its population wants to destroy the other half. I can’t just pick myself up and say it’s going to be okay. The platitude that love and justice will win in the end is full of shit. We are seeing the power of hate and evil rise, and I feel helpless. I don’t want any part of it.

Rest assured, moving out of the country isn’t just about running away. It’s about running toward a place that is more in line with my values. Finding that place that speaks to my heart and says, “This is where I belong.”

I want to wake up in the morning rested and content, building a life based on strength instead of fear. I want each day to feel like I am whole and alive.

As I sketch out what my life would look like in another country, a myriad of feelings pop up. The one moving me forward is hope. For the last couple of months leading up to the election I didn’t allow myself to hope or dream. Now I feel like I have room to hope.

What I see is living simply, being able to walk my dog to the nearest cafe to drink a coffee and begin to make connections. Learning to be comfortable with myself and making myself part of a community.

Making the decision to move feels hopeful. It is giving me a chance to build what I want and become who I want. I am aware that this isn't going to be easy. I am essentially uprooting my life in the hopes that I am going to find something better somewhere else.

This was not an easy decision to make. I am leaving family and friends in the United States and going somewhere where I will have to learn a new way of living and quite possibly a new language.

I have always dreamed of living in another country. The move will be hard and I will doubt whether or not I am doing the right thing. And in the end, I need to choose which kind of hard I want.

Martha Treder

Soul Searcher | Activist

I have always valued community and cultivating connections. I’ve been reflecting on my next steps and part of that is sharing my thoughts and journey. It’s not just about my story; it’s about creating a community where we can all connect, support each other, and grow together.