Finding Home

Home has always been a concept l've struggled with.

Raised in an unsteady environment due to my parents’ addictions, I never stayed in one place long enough to comfortably call it my home. While meditating on the impact of my upbringing, I found a symbolic connection to the migratory patterns of birds.

To me, birds embody the nomad. Their seasonal migrations mirror my own patterns of constant relocation. They represent both the freedom and anxiety that accompany a life of movement. Along their migrations, they take time to settle and nest. Though aware they will eventually move on, birds still take the time to construct a safe and nurturing space. This act reflects the human desire to create comfort, even in the face of impermanence.

What is home? Is it a place? A feeling? Everyone has their own definition of what home is to them. It comes from our experiences, who and what makes us feel safe. But do you feel safe in yourself? If everything is stripped away, where is home then? I've come to understand that the most enduring sense of home is within ourselves.

We carry a sense of belonging within us, no matter where we go. We choose the people who give us the space to come into our own. This understanding has given me peace in being nomadic. I can create home on my own terms with the people I love and who love back.