I struggled with the concept of “home” since I left the land of my birthplace. As an immigrant, I always thought home is where I was born. Later, once I settled in Canada, I called this part of the world home. The concept of “home” was completely shattered though when I started travelling. As much as I missed my native land, my family and friends, I was surprised to discover a little bit of “homeness” in every place I visited.
I remember the first time I had this notion, this feeling of “I am home”. I was in Costa Rica where I had the privilege to meet some extraordinary people from different wildlife rescue centres and from an orphanage. Spending time there with other people and different animals, in a completely different country, not even speaking their language at that time, I had a deep feeling of “I am home”. It was not the physical place itself that I called home. It was the home in my heart. It was what my soul connected with in that place.
People tell me: “Home is where my family is.” Yes, partially correct for me. But for the last 20 years I couldn’t physically be with them very often. I miss them dearly and even though I still talk to them often and see them about once a year, I am physically not there. It was my own choice to move away.
I initially called “home” this land, far, far away from where I was born. At least this is what I thought. Until now, when I reflected on the question “What is home after all”? Is it the pile of glass, steel, wood and brick that we call a house? Is it the place where we have our family members, or our friends? Is it the birthplace? Is it all the possessions we have, all the material things that we get so attached to?
For me, I made peace with the fact that I had, have and possibly will have many homes in many places. I am not referring to having a physical house in different areas of the world. I am talking about places and people that make me feel at home in my heart, wherever I am, for as long or as short as I am going to be there for.
My home is where my heart sings so loud that I can barely hear anything else, where my soul vibrates with joy and where my whole being fills with tremendous gratitude and love. My home is everywhere in this Universe. My home is Earth, with all her beauty.