Not Just Who You Live With
In my experience, who you live with matters much more than where you live. Everything feels nicer and easier when you share your life with someone you love and there is support, understanding, and harmony between you.
For a long time, I believed that happiness came almost entirely from within. Over the years, however, it has become clear to me that where you live can also make a tremendous difference in how you feel and experience life.
Of course, wealthier countries often offer better economic opportunities, healthcare systems, and social support. It can be easier to find a job, access treatment, or build a comfortable life. But that is not what I want to address here.
When a Place Feels Right
What fascinates me is the feeling some places give you while others do not. It is almost as if certain locations simply suit you better. The atmosphere feels right, your body responds positively to it, and you find yourself naturally aligned with the rhythm and energy of the place.
We often choose where to live because of a job opportunity, because a partner’s career leads us there, or because a country offers stability and security. These are all valid considerations, and depending on what matters most to you, they may even be the right ones.
Yet I sometimes wonder whether practical reasons alone can create that feeling of ease, that sense of being exactly where you are meant to be.
In my experience, this is not a question that can be answered logically. It is something you have to feel for yourself.
A Bench in Tenerife
Several years ago, I realized this while waiting for a few friends outside a store in southern Tenerife. I was sitting alone on a bench when I suddenly became aware of a feeling of ease. The energy around me seemed to fit me perfectly. There was a sense of lightness, happiness, and well-being. For no particular reason, life simply felt good.
I was sitting on that bench and, interestingly enough, I had no wish to be somewhere else. I was not thinking about what I wanted to do next or where I needed to go. That is unusual for me because my mind is normally planning, analyzing, or thinking about the next step.
The sky was blue, and the sun was shining, but it was not too hot. The temperature was simply pleasant. The air felt light and fresh, not heavy or oppressive. I liked the modern surroundings, the architecture, and the overall atmosphere. I liked the people and the relaxed feeling of the place.
At that moment, I felt that this place somehow matched my own energy. It was as if I were in harmony with my surroundings. That may sound a little strange, but it was the best way I could describe the feeling.
What Our Environment Brings Out in Us
Years later, when I went through what many would call a midlife crisis, I thought back to that afternoon in Tenerife. It made me realize that one important piece of the puzzle is the environment in which we live.
“Does your environment make you feel at ease? Do you identify with the people around you? Do you enjoy the lifestyle, the pace of life, and the values that surround you?”
Looking back, I can see that my environment has influenced me far more than I once believed. It has affected my mood, my energy levels, my outlook on life, and ultimately my sense of well-being.
What felt so good in Tenerife was not excitement or adventure. It was something much simpler. Everything just felt right.
Choosing Where to Live Intentionally
Because of that experience, one thing I would recommend to myself, and perhaps to others, is to choose where you live as intentionally as possible.
I am not saying that I dislike where I currently live. Rather, I have come to realize that there are places that seem to fit me better than others. Places that bring out a different side of me. Places where I feel more in harmony with myself.
It is difficult to put this feeling into words. I am also not suggesting that moving somewhere else will solve all of life’s problems. We carry many of our challenges wherever we go.
Yet there is something valuable about living in an environment that supports rather than drains you. An environment where the climate, the people, the culture, and the pace of life feel natural to you. That feeling of ease is worth a great deal.
Since we only have one life, why not try, when possible, to find an environment that suits us? Why not give ourselves the opportunity to enjoy life a little more and appreciate the places where we feel most alive?
Of course, not everyone has the freedom to live wherever they want. I recognize that being able to choose where you live is often a privilege. But if that choice is available, I believe it deserves serious consideration.
Sometimes finding the right place requires exploration. It may involve traveling, experiencing different climates and cultures, and being open to lifestyles that differ from the one you grew up with. Not everyone is meant to spend their entire life in the place where they were born.
Where Do You Feel Most at Home?
Looking back, I am grateful for that simple afternoon on a bench in Tenerife. Nothing extraordinary happened, yet it taught me something I had overlooked for years: where we live shapes us more than we often realize.
So I leave you with two questions:
“Where do you feel most at home? And why?”
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