A question of such simplicity and relevance, but manages to evoke a wide variety of responses from people. From a place where you see your family, to a place
where you sleep best, home can be so many things.
I tried capturing 4 basic
elements that can define a home:
1) Home is the base for mobility
This one is
borrowed from an article I read, and the term ‘base for Mobility’ sounds like
an oxymoron, but it makes a lot of sense. Like the hub of a hub-spoke model,
you always go back to the hub to re-route to your next destination. Home does
that for us, both physically and mentally. From the Hub you recharge your
batteries and then decide which is the next destination to head to. The Hub is
also the place where you are mentally in the best frame of mind to reach out to
the people you want to connect with. Therefore, home has both physical and
mental manifestations.
2) Home is where the inanimate extensions
of your personality reside
Have you
ever noticed how the simple placement of your personal coffee mug on a work-desk
suddenly makes that desk your own? Home is a lot like that. You place all those
things that represent you as an individual around you, and suddenly, even a
hotel room could be your home.
3) Home is where you are valued
Like a
phrase I once read, ‘you go where you are invited, but stay where you are
valued’, and this is completely true for home as well, since that is the place
where you are truly valued. Even the bed in your house values you enough to lend
you the best sleep you can get. Everything in your home values you as an
individual, both people and things that reside there.
4) Home is your center of gravity
Just as how
the carrying of a heavy rucksack can temporarily destabilize you, home is where
you always need to go back to, in order to find that stability. Once you are home
and stabilized and grounded, you are ready to now carry the metaphorical
rucksack towards your next activity.
Well, that’s me.
What is home for you?
Well, that’s me.
What is home for you?
