Does the place you live in inspire you?

Recently, I moved. Not only to a different city, but to a different country on another continent. One of the reasons I moved is because I have a connection with places that have a history to it. I’ve always felt drawn to places that seemed to be frozen in time, with little squares, cobblestone streets, old monuments and unique landmarks. For most, this seems like a small reason to make such a drastic change; “Why not just vacation there?” was a common response. Well, the answer is that this simple fact of where you live, affects more than you might think.

The way you live changes with the place you live

Here, I walk more. I talk to strangers more. I stop to watch a street musician, or to ask a neighbor about the history of a building. I want to do those things because I enjoy being where I am. Everyday is different. I walk on different streets, meet different people, eat in different cafes.

I have built in my life more movement, more social interactions, more curiosity. That’s literally the definition of LIVING more.

Where I used to live, life felt faster and more restricted — home, car, work, repeat. Some days I didn’t leave the house. Some days I didn’t get 2,000 steps. Some days the only people I saw were people from work. Life was a boring movie on repeat.

Connection to people through place

When you genuinely care about where you live, you notice the people in it differently. You start to learn the shopkeeper’s name, greet the same elderly man reading in the park, share a nod with the baker as they hand you fresh bread. Over time, those small connections become the threads of a community — not because you forced it, but because the place draws you all together.

We are social beings and we thrive when we feel like we belong. Nowadays is easy to feel disconnected and to avoid interactions, after all this is one drawback of the digital age. When we don’t feel attached to where we are, that’s another reason to not create these ties with the people around us.

A desire to preserve and contribute

When you fall in love with a place, you want to take care of it. I’ve found myself picking up trash on my walks, supporting the small café instead of the chain, and learning about local traditions so I don’t just consume them, but help keep them alive. There’s a sense of stewardship here — as if I’m a temporary guardian of something precious.

But not only do I want to preserve it, I also want it to thrive. I want to contribute to the growth and betterment of this place. I choose to purposefully do things that will support it in many ways, including supporting its residents. I always consider if my actions are having a positive impact here.

Inspiration and creativity

Beauty has a way of refilling your inner well. I’ve noticed that when I spend time in places that enchant me, more ideas come to me, I get more energy to work on my projects, and find a stronger sense of purpose when I wake up in the morning. Even something as small as the way the morning light hits the terracotta rooftops can set the tone for my entire day. When the church bells ring I am reminded of the history and accomplishments of the past. All of these feelings help me feel inspired and creative.

When all I saw was the inside walls and the right angles of modern buildings, when all I heard was the noise of lawnmowers and the AC unit, life was pretty bland. There was nothing that caught my attention, nothing that reminded me of anything useful, nothing that fueled a fire in me.

The feedback loop

The more inspired I feel, the more I want to contribute. The more I contribute, the more connected I feel. That connection fuels even more inspiration. It’s a cycle that makes life richer and more grounded. Every day is a new adventure where I get to play an active part in this story. I am able to live in a place that, without trying, boosts my productivity and mood.

Choosing place with intention

Most of us choose where to live based on work, convenience, or family ties. Those are important factors, but if you ever get the chance to choose based on inspiration, I think it’s worth taking. Because the place you live in isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a partner in your life story.

The point is not to say that my place is better than yours. Just that this is the place that I feel this way about. You mostly likely won’t feel like I do about where I am, but maybe you will feel that way about somewhere else.

So, I’ll leave you with the question I asked myself before I moved:

Does the place you live in inspire you? And if not… what might your life look like if it did?