BY MASHA TITOVA
Moving is never a walk in the park - we should know. It’s always full of surprises, unexpected mishaps and experiences you’ll never forget. SO when Masha Titova, founder of lingerie brand titov, told us about her cross country move, we knew her journey was one for the books. Here are the five things she learned from moving across the country.
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YOUR MEMORIES OF MOVING DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SO BAD.
Moving never gets easier - that’s coming from someone that has moved between continents and across the country many times. It’s always exhausting and stressful, but this time around I wanted to change it up and really experience the journey back East. I packed up my life, sent it off on an Amtrak and began my cross country trip from Los Angeles, CA to Boston, MA. My dad met me in LA to accompany me on our 4,000 mile drive along the southern state. It took us 8 days to cross through Marfa, Austin, Nashville, DC, and NYC, and surprisingly, it became an experience I will forever cherish. I was so grateful to be able to spend time with my dad, as well as see a quarter of the US along the way (much of which were cities that I’d never even heard of before). For the first time I learned that something great could come out of the act of moving.
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YOU ALWAYS HAVE MORE STUFF THAN YOU ACTUALLY THINK YOU DO.
People who like books should never move - being an artist my collection has definitely built up over the years. In addition to my personal items, I moved my studio consisting of sewing machines, rolls of fabric and piles of paperwork, so you can imagine how hectic that was. Moving two spaces at once was a lot more challenging than I had expected, and I also learned that there is no better workout than carrying 50 lb boxes from room to room and down 7 flights of stairs to a Uhaul. So if anyone ever feels like they need a good workout, just move somewhere without a moving crew.
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YOU’LL BE SURPRISED BY THE WAY YOU CAN LEARN TO LOVE NEW PLACES.
I’m definitely a city girl, yet a small town called Marfa, TX stole my heart. It was absolutely in the middle of nowhere - a few miles north of Mexico and easily a 3 hour drive from any remotely populated city. It had all of the charm and quirk you could expect from an isolated town, and just fell in love with the kindness of the people and the incubation of artists that it held. It’s genuinely a place of no distractions and loads of opportunity for inspiration. I’m currently working out a way to visit again which has proven to be difficult considering it seems to be more difficult to travel to than Europe (perhaps this is why Marfa has stayed so under the radar). Regardless, I think another road trip may be in my future.
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NEW FRIENDS MAY BE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
Think back to your closest friends - how did you meet? Were you work buddies or did you go to college together? Maybe lived next door? I learned it’s really hard meeting new people, especially if you work for yourself and live alone. Amazingly, a community and co-working space called The Wing opened up when I moved to Boston and it has become my lifeline. I have made amazing friends through this community along with making great work connections. It’s hard to constantly put yourself out there, but out of all of the awkward encounters you may have along the way, you'll find some really great people. More people feel lonelier than you could ever imagine, and a simple “let’s grab coffee” can really be impactful. It was eye opening to have found that most people are just looking for someone to eat and get drinks with. I’m grateful to have met some pretty irreplaceable friends already
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LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR BODY NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE MOVE.
Even though I had grown up in Boston with no issues, after moving away and then back, I have been dying of allergies. I’m always learning about my body and how it’s still changing. Even something as simple as water or air quality has a drastic effect on my skin’s condition. It’s allowed me to take a step back and give my body some extra nurture it deserves. For allergies, I am experimenting with various medicines to see which one works best for me. Fingers crossed my body will adjust and allergies will not be an issue next year! I also learned how to take care of a lot of the issues I’ve dealt with regarding my skin by moisturizing my body more to help with the dryness. Plus, my favorite face skin solution of Glycolic acid at night and a collagen/retinol blend in the mornings definitely doesn’t hurt.
Masha Titova is the founder of TITOV, a lingerie brand that combines her geometric designs with the perfect fit for women to feel confident and comfortable. She believes every woman should feel like what they are wearing is made for them. Her favorite color is fluorescent yellow. She lives with a chubby cat named Pumpkin outside of Boston. Follow her journey @TITOVLABEL
