Hmm, well similar to you @joshua , I would have to say mine was a move in location also.

I moved from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to a small country-ish town in northern California back in July of 2009. I was pretty much a city girl up until then and I was in a major culture shock for probably the first 6 months. It didn't start kicking in that I actually lived in this beautiful state until then, at least.  But it changed me for the better.  I'll admit, I could be very close-minded before I moved out here (in part, that was a result of the things I was exposed to, being from the South; and my dad's side of the family can be incredibly intolerant of things they don't approve of, which is one reason I only associate with them as little as humanly possible), and it opened my eyes to so many things that I had never experienced in my life: the food, the music, the scenery, just to name a few.

But I've also come out of my shell as a result... I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm now outgoing or anything because I am still that shy introvert that I was back then... but I have felt my self-confidence become a bit stronger, from the atmosphere I've been in for the past 6 years.

I would include another event also, but it's a traumatic one that I don't like to talk about, and it took me a very long time to realize that it did change me into a stronger person (though I still struggle with that at times).