[at home]

"What instantly makes you feel at home?"

"My dog. Is that a bad answer? A dog, my dog, animals make me feel at home. A puppy, an animal, any sort of dog. Animals are so calming, they're just your sense of home."

"Tell me about your dog."

"Ok, so, I have a dog, her name's Molly, and I've had her since I was in third grade. She's a black lab, and she's probably my best friend. We go on hikes together, we go to the beach together, she basically comes everywhere with me. I'm obsessed with her.

"How did Molly feel when you left for college?"

"She waits by my door every single day, that's what my mom told me. She waits for me outside of my bedroom door. Clearly, she's upset. That's what I'd like to think at least!"

"Home" can be hard to come by this time of year, although it seems to be in constant conversation. With the holiday season fast approaching, people assume that you're returning to a physical location--but sometimes, there isn't time. There isn't money. There just...isn't. The physical location is one thing, the comforts of "home" are hard to mimic elsewhere...but when we really think of "home," rarely do walls, couches, and tables come to mind.

We think of the pictures on the walls, showcasing the people we love.
We think of the people we love on the couches, inviting us to join.
We think of the dinners had around the table, the conversations and stories swapped over a good meal.

We think of so much more than a physical location. "Home" is so much more than that.

When we "go home"--when we truly "go home," we are reuniting with those that know everything about us, and love us anyway. We are reunited with people, pets, friends, family, all of which have molded us into who we are, and continue to shape and encourage us each and every day.

Maybe it's one person, maybe it's one pet...maybe it's the place that shaped you, challenged you, and propelled you forward. But whatever that piece of home is, that sense of home is--cherish it. Recognize it. Hold on to it for the days you won't be able to return, and the days it may not be there to return to. Because as much as this world can hurt...home can always heal, home can restore and rejuvenate, and home can make you whole again.