The Meaning of Home

Meaning of home For me, the word home is very different from the word house. House means, well, a house, anything from a mansion to a small shack could be a house. Whereas home is something completely different, home, for me, isn’t just a house; it's the feeling that comes with it. The meaning of home isn’t a roof over your head or a bed to sleep in at night, it’s more of a feeling. It makes you feel safe and loved, like the smell of cookies coming out of the oven, or sitting by the fireplace after a long day. One of my favorite feelings is, after a long day of skiing, coming home to my cottage in the woods. I’m freezing cold and barely have enough energy to get out of the truck. Nevertheless, I haul skis out of the truck and take all my ski gear off, then finally, curl up by the fireplace and read a book or knit, listening to the soft crackling of the fire, and letting the feeling of relief wash over me. For me that is truly the best feeling. Another feeling that I really love is when I've just finished a sailing regatta, and I’m freezing cold and soaked to the bone. After changing into a warm pair of pants and a hoodie, I go outside to the BBQ to get a hotdog, and talk to all my friends about the race. I get that warm sense of relief, like everything is ok now, and I can go home feeling proud of myself, for finishing yet another race. Those feelings of coming home after skiing and sailing are some of the best feelings in the world. They remind me that home isn't in the walls of a house. It's my family who shares hot chocolate with me after skiing, and my friends who laugh with me after a race. Home is where I can be completely myself, whether I'm curled up with a book by the fireplace or celebrating after a regatta. That warmth that wraps around me like a blanket that is the meaning of home