5 Things I've Learned From Starting Over Five Times

Just me, riding a bike that is older than me.

I've started over five times. Every time, I put my life in a backpack — or suitcase when I got older — and some recycled Amazon boxes to build a new life from scratch.

Over the last 15 years, I've lived in three countries, several time zones, and eight houses — hopefully, nine by the end of 2021.

I started by traveling to foreign countries to find myself, moved abroad, and then moved again. I learned new languages, changed careers, made new friends, and tried to make myself helpful.

How do you start over without losing what you've left behind, and when do you know it's time to move on? Here are some things I've learned after often reinventing my career, life, and home.

1. Embrace What Makes You Different

When starting from scratch, one of the best things is that you can “reinvent” yourself and show your new acquaintances who you are from Day One.

Growing up, I often attempted to highlight my similarities to my friends and family. When I first found myself in a foreign country, I couldn't fit in no matter how much…