Home is more than just a word, or a beautifully designed structure. It is a profound feeling -universal -yet deeply personal that transcends words and definitions.
Everything in nature, from the stoic mountains to twinkling stars to lush green trees, shares a common story. The tale of origins, of belonging and of the places they call home. Humans, the most evolved of all, carry this same intrinsic narrative of connection and belonging.
Humans have a deep-seated obsession with home. While the idea of home resonates universally, its definition varies uniquely from person to person.
For some homes are the warmth of family ties; for others, it is the soil where the ancestral roots lie. Home might be the aroma of their favorite dish, or the unity of a shared faith, or the embrace of a person who feels like home, or a song that brings comfort and solace.
Ultimately, home is where one feels a sense of belonging-a sanctuary where the heart and soul can be set free. It is the place that feels right, with the right people around, where one can witness their destiny unfold without fear or concern.
Home reflects the entire spectrum of human emotions. It holds moments of joy and sorrow, comfort, and despair, reassurance, and disappointment. Built on the foundation of unconditional love , home invariably holds all the emotions that make us human.
For those uprooted-be refugees or individuals displaced by circumstances, home can become a distant, haunting dream -a place that no longer exists or conflicts prevent them from coming home. This loss cuts deeply, stripping away not only memories but also a sense of identity.
The narrative of home is about discovery and loss, where people leave to find new homes, seeking connections and belonging, even yearning for what was left behind.
Homesickness, -whether for a place, person, or a life imagined -reflects this deep longing.
The phrases, “Going home,” “coming home “carry with them an enduring beauty and comfort to it. The novel Gone with the Wind concludes with this sentiment, when Scarlet O’Hara resolves to return to her home Tara, believing it holds the solution to all her problems.
The belief that home can heal, and foster hope is universally acknowledged across cultures.
As the poet Maya Angelou’ beautifully said,
“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are, and not be questioned “
Sayeeda Pearl
Doctor by profession, Trivandrum medical college alumni, a passionate reader first, writing tidbits here and there on this and that. Sharing bits of life’s fascinating teachings that everyone encounters.
No Comment