All of us will always be tied to our hometown (whether that is good or bad). We will remember the field we played in, the grocery store we followed our parents through, and the pool where we spent our summers. For some of us, our hometown is our own little slice of heaven; it is comfortable and familiar, which is why it is important to leave.

You heard me. Get up and leave that place that you have always called home. Whether you go an hour away, a couple time zones away, or across the world, you should go somewhere new while you are young. It is important to go while you are young because as life goes on and responsibilities add up, people inevitably become rooted to where they are. Go before your long-term career starts, before your first child and before you decide who you truly are.

Here are a couple advantages to moving away while you are still young:

1. You’ll get a fresh start.

All of us need a couple fresh starts in life. When you leave home you get to experience new faces and new places, which also means you get to put forth whatever version of yourself you choose. This version is what you want others to see. It may not be how people perceived you in the past, and that's okay. You won’t have to worry about running into your 1st grade teacher at IHop after a long night out.

2. You’ll experience a new culture.

How will you ever know if you like BBQ food if you don’t leave your Arizona hometown to come to Kansas City? Every city, state and country has a different culture. Who knows, you could be the next Lindsey Vonn; but you’ll never know unless you head to Colorado. Get out and discover new lifestyles so that you can ensure you are always doing (and eating) what you love.

3. You’ll be forced to do everything on your own.

No more check up’s at your pediatrician’s office. When you move away from home you are forced to make decisions and take care of yourself how you see fit. When you leave your hometown you get to learn who YOU are because you no longer have your parents’ views or habits to use as a crutch. It will be hard at first, but you will discover things about yourself that only come out after you change zip codes.

4. If you do decide to go back home, it’ll be that much sweeter.

If after you’ve experienced somewhere new you decide home is where you belong, you’ll never stay up at night asking yourself “what if?” Your hometown diner will taste that much better, that grassy field will be that much greener, and your heart will be so much fuller knowing you are exactly where you need to be.