Far Far Away
The psychology of leaving home
As we get older, we begin to value our surroundings and our little personal-so-precious space. As we get older, we begin to understand how the environment and people around us make us…us. As we get older, we see people come and go. As we get older, we are the ones who start "going." As we get older, we leave those who we care about behind to start a new life. As we get older, we learn how to live with saudades.
Saudade | sa-w-da-deh | noun
a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia that is supposedly characteristic of the Portuguese or Brazilian temperament
As we get older, we shape saudades in our daily lives through people, places, and things (aka nouns) to make that far far away place feel not that far far away.
People-Shaped Environment
Think about Shrek for a moment. He lived alone in his swamp-paradise, arguably unhappy. Yes, before meeting Fiona, Donkey, and Pussy in Boots, he believed he lived happily and did not need anyone else, and no place else. However, after meeting them, his energy (by energy we mean that philosophical sh•t we love: perception of the world) totally changed and he acquired a lighter and more hopeful view of the world.
Where we are trying to tackle? People shape who we become, and having people who make us feel like us and accept us for who we are is a liberation. *wink wink* The more authentic your relationships are, the more likely they will feel like home.
Places-Shaped Environment
Think about that coffee shop or place in the park that transports you to "home." An example from one of ours is where there's green space and sun; lots lots of sun will make her day. Literally, a sunbath and some talk with trees (randomly weird and fun) can be a way of fulfilling (or trying to) saudades.
Things-Shaped Environment
If you ever studied or worked abroad, did you take a special item that has some bulked-up meaning? This could be literally anything. You choose as you must. Some of our examples are bookmarks, books, portraits, candles, drawings, and even a sofa pillow.
All these little things carry a special home feeling that helps your new place/environment feel comfy and try to beat up the saudades.
An overall summary without b.s.: Home can mean different things. You address the meaning of home. Some people feel like home, and maybe that is the best feeling ever because it is not linked to a set space.
Whatever it is to you is what matters.
