"Where is home for you?" That's a good question.
I used to be jealous of the people who lived in the same house since they were born. For them, their answer was easy. For me, it's a little more complicated. It took awhile for me to figure out what I identify as my "home." There are many definitions of home and everyone has their own view of what is theirs. But, my home is not a place - it's an idea.
Overtime, after I moved away from my hometown, I developed two families. I really felt like I had two lives. My friends only knew one half of my life. It was difficult for me to balance two lives because I never felt whole. The transition I went through showed me that my home did not necessarily have to be a place or a person, but an idea. To me, home became the places that I had a personal connections with. I developed an appreciation for both families and how they have impacted my life. Home isn't just related family members, but friends I could count on. Home is a place where I trust people. Home is a place where I feel understood. Home is where I feel safe.
As someone that lived in two places, I constantly remember old memories while creating new ones. What I struggled with the most was that I never felt whole because my heart was split between where I come from and where I was going. As you grow up, you meet people that have an effect on you for different reasons. My childhood friends and my high school friends are really two different types of people who influenced who I am today from different periods of my life. I cherish both groups equally. Home is not only where I grew up, but also where I'm reminded of the memories that I cherish.
You can identify a place or places as your home. In the end, I believe that it's the people that make your home a home. The memories that you have and cherish are what creates a connection between you and a place. The relationships you have with people are the people that will always be there for you. Home lies within the people that love you.
