Fight or Flight : Why I Left the USA Rather than Fighting for Equality
Flight or Flight? The Choice is Yours.
This article is in no way saying that I do not stand in solidarity with my brothers and sisters who are fighting the good fight. My intention is to simply show you guys a different option for those of you that are open to it. In no way should you have to leave your home in order to be treated as a human being but for those of you that are considering it, this article is for you.
My husband and I decided to leave America back in September 2017. We are fed up with the injustice and also the rat race of America. I remember feeling terrified, uneasy, uncertain, pissed off, triggered, and heavy. I wanted peace, I wanted to thrive in life and do the things that I enjoy. I didn't want to have to spend 90% of my time worrying about the color of my skin. I didn't want to live in fear that my husband or I would end up as a hashtag. For me, this is no way to live so I left.
Honestly, when we first decided to leave we did not have much of a plan, we just knew we wanted out and decided to start off with a three-month sabbatical to Mexico. After only a few weeks of living in Mexico, I could not fathom going back to America and starting all over. When we left we decided to sell everything. Maybe we always knew we wouldn't be coming back but again initially that was not the plan. However, as I was doing yoga on the beach, buying fresh mangoes from local vendors, and eating the freshest tortillas I've ever tasted I knew that this was a life that I wanted. I knew that this was my idea of living. I felt successful and peaceful. This is how I measured success, having the time and freedom to create each day, and not live in fear.
5 Steps to Leave America
Set the intention
"When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it." I hate to sound cliche but in order to achieve anything, we must first believe that we can. If we don't believe that will allow obstacles to stop us. Right before we left America we were hit by Hurricane Harvey. We could have easily allowed this to deter us from leaving but we did not and while this set us back a week from the original exit date we left and it ended up working in our favor.
2. Come up with a plan
Decide on the how, when, where, and why and stick to it. Once we created a plan opportunities presented themselves. Some people give themselves 10 years to leave others give themselves 2 months. It all depends on your circumstances and your eagerness. I'm pretty impulsive and once I make my mind up about something I'm all in! So I gave myself 4 months then cut it down to two months.
3. Research, Research, Research
Please research visas, cost of living, laws, business ideas, etc for the place or places you consider. Look for other ex-pats on social media and watch YouTube videos.
4. Focus on Your Strengths
What can you offer your new home?! How can you make money from these skills, or how can you trade these skills for resources. Some people have left the States with very little money and volunteer in exchange for room and board. Some people housesit! The opportunities are endless but you need to have an open mind and let go of your false security of certainty.
5. Ignore the small-minded naysayers!
Do you know how many people thought that we were absolutely crazy to be selling all of our belongings and moving to Mexico with no jobs? Most people try to tell us that we were making an irrational decision and that we should continue to work, buy a home have children, and live happily ever after. But to ask this was not the definition of living and I am so grateful that I am confident enough to live my life for me and not for my family or society. Now some of those very same people who doubted us now admire us and ask how we did it.