I just returned home from a long weekend in my home state! It was a really lovely time. Time with family and a chance to unwind and take in some of the beauty that nature has to offer. A different kind of beauty that I am not surrounded by every day. Which brings me to the point of this post: home is in your heart, not necessarily is it a place.
I am from the pacific northwest. Born and raised mostly in Idaho, with brief periods living for one reason or another other places; but always ending up in Idaho. A truly beautiful state. From the majestic mountains to the miles and miles of farmland, it’s diversity is very unique. I LOVE it! Now, I live in sunny Florida. No mountains and not a lot of farmland, pretty consistent temperature, beautiful beaches, palm trees and quite a bit of cultural diversity. And…I LOVE it too!
I often times find myself thinking what “home” really is to me. Is it where I grew up? Or is it a structure? Is it where I live currently? Is it where my children are? How can one be in so many different places at once and still call something home? The answer is certainly not defined. With the chance to visit my home state this past weekend, I have come to the realization that home is where your heart is. It isn’t a dwelling per say, but, perhaps a calmness in your soul, where your being finds contentment.
Home is the where you can be with your loved ones. It is a place of being. Not Physically, but spiritually and emotionally. Sure, you need an address to say you live someplace. I get that. I have concluded however, that I can love both places and call both places home. I don;t know why that has been a struggle for me. But it has. I LOVE both places! In fact, looking back, I have loved all the places I have lived. That’s why I think that home is in your heart! You take home with you wherever you go. It’s the folks you spend time with! Your loved ones. Friends, family, co-workers. And all of these people and experiences don’t have to be in one place! That is the beautiful thing!
So, I know I don’t live where I grew up, went to college, married or raised my children, I now live in a totally different state, clear across the country but I still feel I can call BOTH places home: where I lived for so many years and where I live NOW! Because, home is not what is AROUND you, rather it is what is IN you!