What Is Home?
What is "home" to you? Is it a building, a relationship, or a feeling? I've found that home can be one of those ethereal concepts that means different things to different people. In my own life, home has shifted from a building, to the people, to a place of being.
Some of you are aware of our travel adventures, some of you may have no idea. When I originally wrote this post, I was fresh into a whole new lifestyle. Back in 2014, an epiphany hit me:
It'll always remain "one day" until you put a date on it.
We started a shift in our family, moving from "one day" to mapping out adventures. The next year, we spent a month in Costa Rica. And in October of 2016, we launched as a family to RV the States full-time.
Right before our 2 year "nomadiversary", we accomplished seeing all of the lower 48 states. It was a whirlwind of awesome adventure, and one we still aren't ready to end. As we move into yet another phase of our travels, it's time to reflect again on what "home" really is.
What Is Home?
During that crazy launch time back in October 2016, we were all over the place. Going from house to travel trailer and back again, prepping our place for AirBnB and packing, repacking, downsizing and more. At one point, it was so confusing for the girls when we'd say we're going "home."
Where was that? The place they'd always known, or this new cozy place on wheels they couldn't wait to be in? Really, what is home to us?
I asked my daughter Clara this question months before, when our dreams of traveling the States in an RV were a simple idea we were playing with. She wrote me the letter below, full of beautiful drawings and her truly getting into the zone of identifying what "home" really feels like for her.
Home. It's the place where your story begins, right? It's not a house or simply where you lay your head. Home is something so much more.
Home, to me, is my comfort, my security, where I feel belonging and connection. I don't see it as a location, but a feeling.
My husband Nathan is home to me. My children are home. And on the beach in Nosara, Costa Rica, I feel at home.
Home is also when we play music, turn on our outside porch lights, and relax on our sweet little back porch in Nashville, TN.
Right now, home is the journey I'm taking with my family, exploring the US in our home on wheels. I love setting up home from campsite to mountain range and soaking in the family I love so much.
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A Day In My Life...
Month two in our travels:
It's now dark outside. After a full day of travel, trailer issues and landing in a very mediocre campsite, we were reminded of why we are doing this. It's not just about the perfect spot or a life of rainbows and unicorns.
Juliet learned to ride a 2-wheel bike today. Seeing her joy and pride as she showed off her new skills and got back up again when she fell down...that's the joy of "home."
Clara and Ellie peacefully looked out the car windows talking with us about the sites outside, and tonight we roasted s'mores, watched colorful flames in the fire, and talked about what we are grateful for.
We shared stories about the days each of them were born, and all voiced what we loved about Ellie Rose, who will be seven tomorrow.
I'm finding myself more and more these days. I'm coming into my own home, in my own skin. I'm discovering new things about myself and unleashing my own creativity in new ways.
I'm appreciating the little things and stepping into the present.
I'm so grateful for this home - it's not about the soil around me, but that which is within my own soul.
Listen to Pico Iyer's words as he describes "home" here - and think about what resonates with you:
Tell me...what is "home" to you? Where is your happy place where you are in your element?
Feeling Stuck?
Personality styles, marriage/intimacy, parenting, education, minimalism or travel - what is pressing on your mind?
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You invest in toys, date nights or Disney. When was the last time you invested in something to get intentional with your family connection?
