By Ander Hersh
Take a moment to think about your home; the hallways that you could walk down blindfolded, the certain atmosphere that embraces you when you step through the door, and the people that you (probably) know best. Each of these factors contribute to a sense of safety and comfort when you think of your home, knowing that whether you are in it or not, it is there for you. This sense of safety is known in sociological terms as ontological security (a sense of continuity of self- identity and surrounding social and material environments) but that is just a term to impress your friends over dinner. What it really means is the sense of security that comes from believing that your friends, family, and home will be there for you day in and day out. When moving or migrating anywhere, the ability to feel safe, secure, and confident in yourself can prove incredibly helpful to your wellbeing.
However, moving is a process that undermines a lot of those feelings of safety and security. This can take many forms, moving cities, states, countries, even continents, but one thing remains the same: a large portion of people’s identities are left behind. Of course, it’s not all bad, you may get to leave your nosy neighbors and that one weird grocery store clerk behind. Yet, the same home that provided comfort and safety is now miles away, along with friends and family that did not take the journey with you. So, people find themselves distanced from previous places they held dear to their identity, in a new environment without the social ties that they previously had. These factors can really shake even the strongest person’s wellbeing, as they no longer have their beloved comfort areas and support system to turn to when problems arise, which they inevitably do. At least the local store in this foreign town probably still sells ice cream. Nevertheless, the process of moving and migrating is stressful enough, and becomes particularly overwhelming when faced with a lack of familiarity and comfort.
One of the largest push factors in migration is environmental threats and degradation, which cause large numbers of people to vacate their homes and seek refuge in new places. These risks are often due in large part to advancements in technology that result in cumulative risks and issues. Your neighbor moving because they decided that they hate freezing their *** off in the winter, probably not a risk from technology. Your friend moving because their house borders a wildfire-prone forest? That’s a risk due to technology, because warmer temperatures and forests thick with underbrush and trees provide the literal spark and kindling for fire. Climate change is a risk that has been developing through the continued use of technologies that spew carbon into the air and efficiently reduce carbon traps such as forests, alongside fire-reducing chemicals that prevent small fires but just save those areas to feed massive wildfires. This is just one of many examples, and the effects are just beginning to become threatening. Risk-related push factors will only grow, leading to many more people being forced to move and struggle to maintain their wellbeing.
So what can we do to keep our own and others wellbeing intact when facing a challenging move? The first step in either direction is keeping an open mind, which can be done by listening to others and putting yourself in their shoes. Personally, I had the fortune to watch a video featuring Drocella Mugorewera, in which she describes her experience of being a refugee. While it may seem insignificant, connecting with these stories can not only provide you with knowledge in case you are ever in a similar situation, but it also gives the individual a chance to tell their story. Just in that, both people can help themselves and their wellbeing. Another way to protect and enhance the wellbeing of people who have just moved is to engage with them, perhaps through volunteer programs to help immigrants or simply greeting the new guy on the street. In this case, you help to offer a welcoming environment that provides some comfort and security. Of course, this may be small, but it does build up. Over time, the welcoming environment can empower immigrants and newly moved folks alike to build a new home and new parts of their identity. Put yourself in the place of someone who just moved; the goal is to be able to walk down your hallways blindfolded, be embraced by the atmosphere when you step through the door, and be surrounded by the people that you (probably) know best. Our wellbeing is intricately linked to our homes, so we can each play a role in ensuring security and comfort for ourselves and for others.
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