“Home is not a place, it’s a feeling.”
– Cecilia Aaron
As someone who has lived in a lot of different cities, in a few different states, I believe we create our own home.
We create the feeling, the essence, and the energy of “home” no matter where we live.
Where I live now, in Festus, Missouri, our community recently rallied together for the essence and the energy of the homecoming spirit this last week, as many communities do this time of year.
Since Festus is not my hometown, I was reflecting on the concept of “home.”
While I feel fortunate to live in Festus, besides my children, I do not have family in Missouri. Personally, I cannot say that home is where my family is. But, I can say I feel at home here. And, when I travel to be with my family, I feel at home there, too.
This morning, as my children and I were eating breakfast in our home, I asked my children if/why they feel at home living in Festus. As my 13 year-old-daughter was cutting up a fresh mango and taking bites of her spicy pumpkin bread, she said she feels at home here because she feels she belongs here, especially in her school community.
As my 10-year-old son was navigating how to have a conversation while eating the cinnamon raisin sandwich that he made himself, with an exorbitant amount of Nutella oozing everywhere, he managed to say he feels he is at home wherever he can just be “himself.”
Feeling that we belong and that we can “just be ourselves” are emotions that feel like home to me.
So, if home doesn’t necessarily have to be a place, if it can be a feeling we can embody, perhaps we can feel “at home” wherever we go?
Wherever you are reading this, this is a non-paid endorsement, inviting you to ponder, reflect, and share (with another, or in the comments on social media):
What makes you feel at home?
What kind of energy or emotion creates that feeling within you?
If you are longing for this “at home” feeling in this chapter of your life, are there any itty-bitty things you can do to induce that feeling?
Might you adopt a fresh perspective shift, participate in a reminiscent conversation, bake your grandma’s spicy pumpkin bread, send a sweet package to a home-sick college student, support another by telling them they belong, just as they are?
Thank you for taking a moment out to share your thoughts as you share this link/story.
When we SHARE our ideas, reflections, and perspectives, we invite others to do so, as well.
This kind of CONNECTION SUPPORTS all of us to feel we belong and that we are “at home,” no matter where we live.
Wishing you a day, and an upcoming week, to feel at home within your mind, body, and soul, wherever you live.
Check out where you can find this sweet succulent, mug, and towel from sweet local women on:
Supporting our sweet and brave local business owners feels so good.
