I moved to London recently for a new job/fixed term job I started. First time I've ever worked outside of Scotland and for the first half of the first week I really felt like an alien. I've been to London before but never alone - you think you know it all from what is seen of the place on tv and all that you've seen of it in the flesh in past visits but you don't. It's far deeper and complex than those facades and because of that it's challenging. I have gradually settled down and am getting a bit more familiar with my work, colleagues and surrounding and I think I'll enjoy my time here - familiarity will breed enjoyment and relaxation within the place but it still wrestles with emotions at unexpected points.
The weird thing is, it wasn't long I was in London (less than a day) before I started pining for Glasgow, a place I've not lived in or visited for a year and a half and yet during this time I had no real desire to return there. It must be connected to resuming that city vibe but pining for an urban way of life (I'm rural northern Scottish guy) that I knew best (and trusted best) and in Glasgow that was definitely the place. I'm a terrible one for comparing and contrasting the now with the past, without giving the present a chance. My mind has a great ability to crystalise the past to perfection which never allows me to look at the present in a bright shining light by comparison and while that can be beautiful for divulging memories with it's intense focus of moments long gone it's terrible for getting yourself into a melancholic, depressive stupor that leads to saying about the present 'things aren't as good as they were'. Even if that is a load of bollocks (and it is) I realise it's a very powerful and influencing emotion/thought process and one that I can't allow to dictate my thoughts and feelings. I think that pensive mindset is a big part of my desire in wanting to go back to Glasgow ASAP - partly exaggerated . Of course, I can always visit in the next few months and such a thought excites me a lot but I think in the long term I will look to use my experience in London to return to Glasgow as a far better and more experienced individual than when I last left. You can't turn your back on Glasgow!
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