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What Does Home' Mean to Me

The old adage of Home is Where the Heart is' comes to mind, but there's more to it than that. This old saying doesn't' convey the emotions and feelings that come from being home'.

To me, saying home is where the heart lies' isn't enough, in fact, where my heart lies is a long way from where I actually live. However, that doesn't mean I'm not at home' or happy where I am now.

My definition of home' is more complex. When I think about where my home' is, I feel lots of emotions, not just love or affection. I have moved around a lot my whole life, and while it has taken time to adjust, everywhere has felt like home in the end.

You see, I made it feel like home' using many different tools. It has never been just about the dwelling or where it was. Nor is it only about the way I furnished and dressed the place, though this does help. No, it has been more about the people I live with, the things I do in the dwelling and finding the good and bad things about the place.

My ideal home' is big, but simple. I like simpler dwellings that are more practical than richly aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I like lots of natural light and airflow and space where my girls and I can dance. I also favour dwellings that have big, fully fenced yards, where we can all play and work in the gardens. There also has to be lots of native or other food source plants for the local wildlife. We love watching the birds and lizards as they come to visit our home'

There must be laughter and love filling my home', no matter how bad things get. Laughter and love make the atmosphere light, warm and inviting. This in turn makes new surroundings more comfortable and easier to live in.

Comfort is important, but that grows and changes with the belongings and people there with you. The placement of our simple, mostly second-hand furniture makes moving around easier and we are able to set things just the way we like.

Home' is where I am happy. It is where I can evolve and improve on who I am. I can be the real me' here and sing as though no-one is listening, dance like I'm a lightfooted fairy and love like no-one has ever loved before.

When I come home', I feel better. I can put my feet up and block the outside world from my mind. I can unwind, take in the mess and know that we are living. Neatness and hospital grade cleaning are not necessary in my home'. I need the lived in look and feel that shows mine and my family's enjoyment for life. Chaos may rule our home' but at least it reflects who we are: simple, happy and loving people who believe life is too short to spend it cleaning.

I have to feel safe at home' when I go to sleep at night. Safe in the knowledge that my family is comfortable, happy and well loved; that they have a roof over their heads and room to play and do all the things young children do.
So, home' to me is more complex than most explanations, but I can put it more simply:

Home is where and what you make of it,
It is where you show who you are,
A place to make you feel good.
Home is never far away
And a place where you live, love and play

Learn more about this author, Arna Cook.
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