What Home Means to Me

Home. To many people, when you say the word “home” they think of a house. A house is not the same as a home. A house is a building. Something that provides shelter. A home is more than bricks. A home is a place where you matter. A home may be a cat on your lap, snoozing gently while you watch the snow fall outside. A home may be a parent, reading to you in front of a crackling fireplace, or even a place where a happy memory was made. Someone can’t just walk into a building they bought, and say, “well! Here’s home!”. You must stay there and make a connection with the area. To have a home, you must make yourself feel comfortable, like in that place you are special, and you are loved by a friend or relative. If you have a roof over your head, but do not feel loved there, you probably won’t be able to call it a home. At home you still need basic things though, like heating and healthy meals. But you still need love. It doesn’t even matter if that is not a person. It could be a dog, cat or even a rabbit or gerbil. In a house, you don’t want to feel alone. A dog would be ideal, because they can interact with humans and play. Petting them can make you feel cozy, and also safe. I call my house home because in the summer, I make memories bouncing around on the trampoline or playing catch in the backyard with my dad. When a house is new, it may seem lonely or even frightening. With another trusted friend, or even family member, it may start to feel a little cozier.