Finding Our Way Back ‘Home’: The Importance of the Four-letter Word
The word ‘home’ is often used casually to indicate where we return after being away for a while. But what does this small but powerful word really mean? For many of us, it is much more than a physical location. It represents our universe, a place where we spend most of our lives and create moments and memories that last a lifetime.
As a child, my family home was a sanctuary where I could escape to after school, watch WWE on TV, and read books on rainy days. The memories of playing board games with cousins and friends, and staying up late telling ghost stories on the terrace, all play out in my mind’s eye, bringing a gentle grin to my face.
But home is not just a place for fun and games. It is where we go to recharge and find comfort in the face of trials and setbacks. When we feel low or lost, we often say, I want to go home! Home is where we pray, and it is often where we retrieve pieces of ourselves that we thought we had lost.
Film, music, and literature are filled with expressions that celebrate the concept of home. It is often said that home is where the heart is, or home sweet home. But home goes beyond the physical space and its contents; it includes us, the ones who create a haven of it. Walls may be silent, but perhaps, they have ears and feelings too. After all, they are the witness of our highs and lows, keeping us safe and grounded.
Irish novelist George Moore captures the essence of the concept of home in his words, A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. Indeed, home is where we find what we need: peace, love, comfort, and memories.
So, while we rush through our daily routines, we must pause to acknowledge and appreciate the importance of ‘home.’ It is where we begin our learning journey, where we grow, where we find comfort, where we face difficulties head-on, and where we can always go back to, no matter where life’s journey takes us.
