Good morning!
In this week’s Hello Hayes podcast, I answer a letter from THE OPPOSITE OF HOMESICK (TOOH). TOOH’s boyfriend was recently promoted (yay!), but taking the opportunity means moving back to her home city — a place she doesn’t “fit” with anymore. The job makes financial sense, but the emotional cost feels daunting.
TOOH asks, “Should I put aside my hesitation and dive into this new adventure?”
And beyond that, “Why does going home feel like going backward?”
Oof! I almost skipped this one because of how raw the topic feels as Brian and I navigate our own move “back home.” In the second half of this episode, I loop you in on what’s happening there and what our decision feels like right now.
This episode is for anyone who:
feels the pressure of finding a “forever home”
has ever felt torn between financial stability and happiness
worries that “going home” might erase the person they’ve become
is navigating big decisions with a partner and fears resentment down the line
wonders if “adventure” can include returning to a place you thought you’d left behind
If this is your first intro to the pod, welcome! Hello Hayes (the podcast) is my advice column in longform audio. Every Tuesday I answer letters from our community in a completely unscripted and unedited format. It’s just you and me, processing and talking and changing our minds in real time. You can find past episodes on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Send your advice letters to hellohayesadvice@gmail.com
If you like having the podcast on Substack, or have other ideas or feedback, let me know — I’m figuring out what belongs where, and your reactions help.
Talk soon,
Hayes
