On the Brink Of Liminality | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

On the Brink Of Liminality

The in-between space of then and now.

375
On the Brink Of Liminality
Unsplash

Adjusting to life on an American campus after a year abroad is no easy feat, especially given the chilly vibe of pre-formed cliques.

A question that arises again and again when meeting new people, however, is, "Why did you go abroad?" If you ask any Freshman Florence Experience student, they will probably give you a mundane answer that doesn't truly sound believable. I tried to investigate deeper into why we all decided to travel the world for a year instead of joining our peers for boring intro classes and binge-drinking, and I found the unusual answer in a concept a friend was describing to me while we wandered the streets of New York City.

The "liminal" is a word that literally means, "the transitional period or phase of a rite of passage, during which the participant lacks social status or rank, remains anonymous, shows obedience and humility, and follows prescribed forms of conduct, dress, etc.," according to dictionary.com.The word liminal, however, comes from the Latin word limens, which translates to threshold.

The concept can best be described as the space filled with uncertainty and anxiety in between the leaving behind of the old and the anticipation of the new. For example, I was living in the "liminal" after I returned from Italy but before I started college in America. The continuity of an everyday routine or place that you once knew is about to change because you are on the threshold of a whole new adventure or journey.

There are some people in the world who are adrenaline junkies, thrill seekers, and full-time adventurers, but for the travelers in the middle, I think the idea of the liminal space describes their existence perfectly. I think the middle ground for these types of people lies in the liminal because it truly revolves around the idea of being uncomfortable with the end of one era and the anticipation of a new one.

A lot of people are scared of change and they never leave the place they were born, they maintain the same job, and they hardly travel. This may be fine and dandy for someone who doesn't feel comfortable in the liminal, but other people thrive on change.

Change isn't easy, although some people may make it seem so. A change requires you take the chance in discovering something new about yourself and the world around you. People who thrive on change thrive in the liminal because it is constantly about rotating your sense of belonging, identity, and values. The liminal requires you to have faith in yourself and believe that things will ultimately work out in the way that they are supposed to be. This lack of control, this idea of letting the universe take control, is difficult for some people, especially those who stick to routines.

Most people thought the author of "Eat, Pray, Love," Elizabeth Gilbert, was crazy for the fact that she dropped her elitist New York City lifestyle to travel the world alone (as a woman, too!) and work through her grief.

Gilbert, however, was just living in her own liminal space after going through an agonizing divorce and struggling with her purpose. Sometimes it is the breakthrough that the liminal journey offers that attracts so many people to enter their own creative process.

In David Seamon's 1979, "A Geography of the Lifeworld, he describes five main traits relating to the idea of home: rootedness, feelings of possession, spiritual regeneration, feelings of being at ease, and warmth. These five traits alone sum up why it is so difficult to transition from one place to another, especially, for example, high school students who did not attend boarding school and suddenly are dropped in a school further than fifteen minutes to home.

The liminal is an intimidating space, but the best way I can describe why forty-six of us decided to drop the comfort of home for a year abroad is because we were intrigued by the notions of discovering somewhere in which we did not belong or necessarily have a purpose. There are people who seek to be on the brink of something extraordinary, and often that is the closest way to put that feeling into words.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

361
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

3862
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2365
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201718
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments