If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?

Immigration. The laws of countries – and there are these laws in several countries! – that mandate preference in hiring of local citizens over foreigners. The laws that restrict movement and migration, of settling in a new location.

Besides the laws creating an “us versus them” attitude, read on. Trust me on this one, it goes somewhere! There is a valid point:

I understand immigration laws: I was born in the USA, but have lived and worked for over a dozen years out of country. For a decade I applied for and received legal work and residence status in the European Union, and traveled for work in music, performance, photography or pleasure to over 37 countries. Many of which I had legal temporary work status. I finally received long term resident EU status to live and work in 27 member countries.

The catch? To re-register in a new country if I moved. To prove I had adequate income, a residence, healthcare, no criminal record. I did it.

Now I’m back in the US, looking at what country I want to relocate to and what the legal requirements are, plus looking to make new connections for work, immediate arrival residence (often temporary) and socialization.

During the exact same week I was corresponding with new friends in the Yucatan, Mexico, the US government was speaking out against Mexican immigrants coming into the US.

So: As I wanted to live and work there, someone else wanted to live and work here. Let’s swap. Or perhaps with someone in the Philippines or Greece or Thailand. South Pacific. Brazil. Belize. Get the point?

I love and need the sunlight and vitamin D (an excellent health story), warm weather, foreign cultures, new adventures, diversity, arts and culture. I even need to wear natural clothing and open-toed shoes (another exciting story!) and prefer wrapping and tying a sarong with a cropped top and head to the water.

Meanwhile, I know people who are too sensitive to hot weather and prefer cold, snowy winters. Or arid, dry climates as compared to hot and humid coastlines.

People will naturally move and migrate and settle in their happy place. Yes: they can improve their homeland, but they also improve their newly adopted homelands, as well. I’ve noticed the more I deny my impulse voice to someone else’s opinion or fears, or delay living my passions in life, the more it affects my health, wellbeing, and society.

It would be like looking away from a beautiful sunset because someone says it belongs to someone else. We all make this world amazing, complicated, and exciting. I say life is a dance, and to dance sometimes we move. In doing so, we can find our place to mingle and thrive….our new home. All of my ancestors made these moves to bring me to a new sunrise.