Embracing Change: A Journey of Adaptation, Authenticity, and Resilience

My Resilient Journey

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As I sit down to reflect on my life journey, I can't help but marvel at the twists and turns that have brought me to where I am today. I was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the midst of the civil war that tore through the region. It’s safe to say I don’t remember much of this since I was an infant, but at the early age of 5, my parents made the monumental decision to move our family to the United States. While I am not certain of the exact reasoning behind this move, I believe it stemmed from my parents' desire to provide a better life for me, one that had more opportunities and fewer moments of hardship and uncertainty.

Being a 5-year-old child not knowing a single word of English was an interesting challenge. Luckily for me, my mind was like a sponge, and in a matter of months, I became fluent. Looking back, I recall my mother accompanying me to school for the first few months, serving as a translator to ensure I understood everything.

If you were to ask me “where are you from?”, I don’t think I’d have a simple one to two-word answer for you. “St. Louis”, “Sarajevo”, “Bosnia”. Nope, I would have to think of a quick way to summarize all of the places I’ve lived. My father worked for a Non-Profit Humanitarian Agency, which provided us with the opportunity to relocate every few years to a new city or country. To summarize it all, the chronological list of places I’ve lived goes: Bosnia, Virginia, Colorado, Russia, Virginia (again), Colorado (again), Sri Lanka, Lebanon, New Mexico, Costa Rica, and Missouri. Quite the list if you ask me.

Each of these places left an indelible mark on my life, shaping my identity and worldview in profound ways. While I could list the pros and cons of each location, the common thread that ties them together is the invaluable lessons in resilience and adaptation that I gleaned from each experience.

If it weren’t for the constant relocation and the necessity to adapt to new environments every few years, I would have likely lived an average life like 99% of the people I know. The typical "learn to drive at 16" and whatnot. However, this nomadic lifestyle taught me resilience and, in a way, forced me to become more extroverted. Despite my initial aversion to change, I learned to embrace it as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.

See, I don’t like people. People piss me off. This resilience taught me patience and eventually led me to learn about self-worth. I was always a people-pleaser, thinking it was necessary to gain acceptance and validation. However, in the process, I lost sight of who I truly was. I became a chameleon, constantly adapting to my surroundings, and changing my views depending on who I was with.

It took me several years to break out of this cycle. It was years after college when I finally realized that none of it mattered, and staying true to yourself is the only path to true happiness. It was then that I adopted the philosophy of attracting rather than chasing. Instead of spending my life chasing people and happiness, I began to focus on being my authentic self. And surprisingly, people started to either leave or stay based on that authenticity.

To those who have left, I wish them well. To those who decided to stay, I am forever grateful. Authenticity is what makes us unique and what makes human life beautiful in my personal opinion. If you can’t be your authentic self around people, you will never be truly happy.

Embracing authenticity has not only transformed my social life but also my professional endeavors. It has taught me accountability and confidence, both of which are essential in any self-development journey. Being able to hold myself accountable and call out my own shortcomings has made me more self-aware and confident in my abilities.

Looking back on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for the resilience that has carried me through the darkest moments of doubt. I am thankful for the opportunities that America has afforded me, and for the countless individuals who have supported and encouraged me along the way. And above all, I am grateful for the unwavering belief that no matter how daunting the odds may seem, with faith, perseverance, and resilience, we can overcome even the greatest of doubts.