This post comes from my sweet sister-in-law Lauren from Porter's Happy Place. She moved here in the summer of 2010 after getting married. She left all comfort and familiarity to follow her love to his home. There were many adjustments to be made and here Lauren shares some things that helped make her transition a little easier.
It's so exciting to be
asked to be a part of this new series on showing love. When Sarah asked me to
guest post, my initial thought was, “How on
earth would I know?!?” I’m going to have a hard time
explaining to others how to help someone who’s brand
new to the area especially when I don’t even
know what I need or want most of the
time. (Let’s blame that on ridiculous girly emotions
and over-thinking absolutely everything).
…That being said, I hope that you’ll
bear with me on this little journey of thought.
Hey,
I’m
Lauren. I’m
Sarah’s
sister-in-law and newest Rieke girl (aside from our sweet Evie). I married my
husband, Jed, in 2010 and after graduating college and quitting my full-time
job, I left my friends and family, moved to Virginia, and became a pastor’s kid. (All in one fell swoop! -
Oh, the things I do for love.)
Honestly,
when I moved away from my home in Pennsylvania and came to Virginia Beach
(despite the similar climate) it was unexpectedly different and quite
difficult. Not only does Virginia Beach shut down with the twinkle of a
snowflake (haha), but I was now married, hours away from my family and
friends and all familiar things.
Even
my church environment changed with my move. Church had been the place where I
had always felt completely comfortable. That’s where I made most of my friendships
and connections and I found great comfort and purpose there. Needless to
say, in the midst of so much change, it was incredibly difficult to step
outside of the tiny comfort zone I still had left. I didn’t really know where I fit and how to
get involved. It took so much energy to push conversation and/or plan
activities.
Absolutely
everything I did took extra effort, extra energy…and a great deal of thinking.
Navigating my way through the town (even to the grocery store) was an
adventure. (Thank goodness for Google maps and nice gas station attendants!)
Meeting
people wasn’t
difficult (in my case) but every conversation seemed to begin and end with
questions about marriage and babies and my recent college graduation. I
spent a lot of time telling the same stories over and over again (to multiple
people, which I didn’t
really mind) but more often than not, the conversation ended there. Our
time together was often very brief and didn’t allow for a great deal of heart-felt
conversation or connection. I like getting to know new people but I really didn’t know what to ask most of the time.
Being
new, I felt as though I had to be very careful around people. I desperately
wanted to please my new family and I wanted to be liked by their friends.
I also wanted to establish my
own personality, boundaries, and home though, which led to many aggravations,
miscommunications and hurt feelings (for everyone). I often felt as
though I couldn’t
be “myself” with the people I was supposed to be
closest to. (I don’t
doubt that most of those feelings came from learning to be a ‘Pastor’s Kid’ at age 22).
On
top of the obvious emotional stress, my body was incredibly fatigued due to
outrageous allergies (oh, Virginia!), hormonal changes and a consistent lack of
quality sleep. (Again, I blame marriage.)
All
that to say…
and with that in mind…
I’ve been racking my brain trying to
think of the things that make transition to a new place a bit easier (based on
my experience) with new everythingness. (Of course, that’s a word!)
So
here are some things that I’ve determined were helpful for me. I’m sure there are more and that they
vary depending on each person and personality involved… but here it goes… 10 ways to care for a Newcomer
Always
Say Hello
I don’t
believe the common comment, “No one even said hi”,
should never be a valid complaint. It isn’t fair
when you have to consistently initiate conversation but I think it helps (at
least for me) to consider it a sacrifice of love.
Don’t’ be Afraid to Ask Questions
It’s
always better to be overly interested and ask too many questions than to not
acknowledge someone at all. Not asking is a quick way to make someone feel
alienated and unimportant.
Pray
Pray for their energy
levels, their spiritual and emotional well being, and their physical and
monetary needs during their transition. Pray that they meet good friends
and mentors and that they quickly feel at ease in their new home.
Assume
Less
Don’t
automatically assume that someone is disinterested or snobby because they are
quiet or because they didn’t accept your invitation at first offer.
Forgive
Often
Change is exhausting,
overwhelming, and often quite complicated. Try to keep that in the back of
your mind when you are feeling hurt by someone’s lack
of interest. Allow plenty of room for disappointment and unrequited attention.
Just keep loving!
Allow
Plenty of Opportunity
They didn’t
come to the group gathering you had planned and had to cancel on you before
your cozy movie night in? Keep asking! Consider trying a different
approach. Perhaps a coffee day-date, dinner out or a simple no-pressure
card, note, or welcome basket of local goodies. Different people feel
cared for in different ways. Sometimes it’s a hug,
good conversation, an outing or sometimes a sweet gift. Feel it out and
regularly offer opportunities for involvement, as you are able.
Also, give a newcomer the
opportunity to serve (with you or with another group). Service often gives
purpose to those who are feeling rather lost. If you know that they used
participate in youth group or worship team or their local softball league, help
them get connected. Let them know that it’s okay
and acceptable to get involved as soon as they
are ready.
Be
Yourself
With so much change and so
many new things, it’s so
nice to see normalcy. Take the pressure off by keeping things casual and
treating them as you would a family member or close friend that you are already
comfortable with. Perfection not required.
Make
Plans
Don’t
be afraid of one on one time. Spend some time chatting over coffee or
searching for a new something for their home. Have them over for a night of ‘nothing
in particular’ and just lounge on the couch for a
couple of hours or make dinner together. Take time to show them that they are
important to you and worth your time.
It’s
essential to connect through common interests and feelings …but
sometimes it can be hard to find common ground when questions are one sided.
New-comers may not know what to ask or how to connect, so help ease the
pressure by doing some of the talking. Share about yourself and give them a
chance to get to know you!
Let loose and just have
fun. Ask them about their hobbies or interests and seek out special events or
lessons. Make memories by doing something new for you but that you know they
will enjoy. Put yourself out there, be a good sport. Sometimes looking a little
“silly”
together can help ease the pressure and form some pretty ridiculous memories!
Arrange
a Group Activity
Help form connections with
others by planning, or going to, a group event. A ladies game night, a
holiday party, bowling, dancing, a sporting event or craft lesson could be just
what they need to meet a new friend or make a pleasant memory with a new group
of awesome gals!
And 10…
I
think you’ll
find that if you treat your town, your church and your friend groups as your “home” just like the house you live in, you
are more likely to act like the incredible host you are! Women,
especially, seem to have a natural ability to be hospitable and comforting. Use
your natural ability and instinct to really make a difference!
Love,
Lauren
Oh, Lauren, what a great post. I'm sorry I've never said it, but I've often thought how hard it must have been for you to leave home and start all over in a brand new setting. Your advice is right on, and I'm going to start reminding myself to practice these principles!
ReplyDeleteGrateful to be in your church family!
JoAnn D
Thank you, JoAnn. I'm grateful too! ...and thatnks for thinking of me. :)
ReplyDelete