What is Home?

Life is stressful, we have all been there and dealt with it (usually a couple times a week). Sometimes I am in a constant state of anxiety. The pressures I put on myself, the lack of sleep, and the consumption of too much caffeine all aid to this feeling. When I am overtaken with this emotion I want to run away and go to the mountains. There, no one can contact me and no one can hurt me.

I am from central Texas and grew up in the countryside. I would be lying if I told you that I didn’t miss the slow life of the backwoods. However, my calling has brought me to the city where I know I can use my knowledge, talents, and strengths to produce real change in society and help the people around me. The effort I bring to my work and life also tires me and erodes my level of confidence. This is when I want to go home, but what is home? I don’t live with my parents and I definitely don’t live in Texas. I live half way across the country in Los Angeles. People say “home is where the heart is”. Let me be the first to tell you this is absolute bullshit. When I think of home, I think of playing G.I. Joes with my older brother, running through the pastures of our land, and snuggling with my dog on a cold winters nights. My heart is certainly not back in the conservative, baptist smeared, bible belt town that I come from. It’s with my work. So what is home? I don’t know! I think home is what we need it to be. A place in our minds where we can escape, even if its just for an evening.

While my adventures in Los Angeles have been exciting. There is a clarity that comes with moving away from the land you grew up on. Far away from your family and the people you love the most. Is my home with them? Is my home with the people 1,493 miles away from me? All I can say is that I miss them terribly but I know home will always be there for me.