What ditching the small town mindset taught me

This writer explores how searching outside of your upbringing can open a variety of new experiences...

Alicia Elliott
3rd November 2025
Image Source: Dupe | Zori Garcia | https://dupephotos.com/results?search=small+town+england&content=f8330a59-a782-48f5-9833-28772339b6b8
I’m beginning to let myself take up space, though it is no easy feat. While being in a small town can prompt a certain mindset, there is something to be said about inhabiting one in your head. Moreover, being in a smaller place outside university holds its weight, and I wonder which has affected me more.

Being in a small town might make somebody feel that they are limited to their comfort zone, and sometimes in life that memo must be rejected.

We’ll begin with strengths:- community may matter, or be noticed, more in such an environment, one can find themselves truly without the fear of crowded judgment, some are naturally drawn to smaller pieces of the globe, et cetera. Adversely, as the saying goes, ‘familiarity breeds contempt’. Being in a small town might make somebody feel that they are limited to their comfort zone, and sometimes in life, that memo must be rejected.

By no means does ditching something mean there are no avenues by which said thing has been helpful.

For me, ditching this mindset prospectively allows room for personal and social lives to flourish. By no means does ditching something mean there are no avenues by which said thing has been helpful. I think this is worth noting and keeping in mind. Small towns give route and root to bigger destinations. If we inspect narrow-mindedness, for instance, at the hands of keeping to one culture, then regrouping would not be the worst idea. Hold value in where you come from and look forward to where you are going - for unpacking a status quo gives seats at tables you did not know, or were not told, were possible for you.

What ditching the small-town mindset has taught me is that it doesn’t matter that you play devil's advocate with yourself, because those things/people/qualities you reach for most of the time meet you halfway. With a bit of luck, and privilege, amongst courage, one will be on their way to a so-called dream life. So long as we leave the small town.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ReLated Articles
[related_post]
magnifiercross
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap