It was exactly 10 years yesterday since I left little eastern European country – Slovakia and moved to America – U.S.A. I still remember the beginnings. Things were hard and often very painful. However, I consider leaving to America as the single best thing I have ever done in my life. It made a huge positive difference in many aspects of my life, and not only health vise and fitness wise. And this is not because of the great country of America. Quite frankly, I would probably say the same thing if I moved to Sweden, Ireland or China. No, not the country is important although I still think that U.S.A. has lots of advantages for young hard working people. Here are health and fitness benefits I noticed on myself by moving and living in different country:
1. I learned how to take care of myself.
I was spoiled, lazy privileged student of prestigious athletic school back in Slovakia, partying hard and often, enjoying my little status of being an good athlete and accepting lots of pocket money from my parents that I didn’t really deserved. This ended as soon as I landed in San Francisco 10 years ago. This turned out to be a great benefit of better self believe and self control and subsequently generally making myself feel better about myself. I would without doubt end up as a looser that only thinks about great old times have I stayed.
2. I learned how to actively seek knowledge and learn.
While back in my previous home, I would only learn, what I was supposed to, to pass exam. It was like a necessary pain. As soon as I moved out, I learned, that if you stop learning, you’re death. I learned how to actively pursue knowledge in fitness, health, science and many other subjects. I learned that knowledge is power. Have I stayed, I would be stuck in my old outdated information comfort zone.
3. I completely changed my overall lifestyle to better. Having to work every day mainly physically in the beginning, made me party less, sleep more, eat better and exercise more.
4. I am actually much stronger, fitter, leaner and healthier person than when I was a performance athlete 10 years ago.
I credit this to more knowledge about health and overall human performance. Put me into a racing boat and let me race the new guys now and I will be able to keep up with them and improving my personal best on 2000 meters in rowing. I am pretty serious about this. Moving to a different country made me become more consistent, smarter and more effective with my overall fitness and diet plan. Now, I am stronger, leaner, healthier, I feel younger and my performance, mental and physical is way, way higher than anytime before.
5. I live in San Francisco bay area, which has the best climate and cleanest air in the world. No comment necessary here.
6. I discovered surfing and many other passions like tennis, windsurfing and many others, that I probably wouldn’t ever have a chance to discover if I have stayed. It enriches my life and makes me smarter and healthier in the process.
7. And last but not least, I met a love of my life while playing tennis. Yes, being fit and active can do this kind of things for you.
However scary it seemed at the time I was leaving my previous home, it turned out to be the best thing I have ever done in my life. They say, you can not connect the dots forward, you can only connect them backward. I don’t know how it might turn out for you, if you try to live in a different country. So if you can’t decide, my advice to you is – Leave! Pack your bags and sit on the fist plane. Try it and see for yourself. It turned out fantastic for me so far!