Home: You Belong Here

According to the dictionary, a home is “a place where one lives”, but to me, it’s much more than a structure with walls and a roof. It is the people, the love, the memories and the feeling of belonging that makes a house feel like a home. Home shapes who I am and who I will continue to become. It is like a heartbeat, steady and strong, always there when the world feels too loud or overwhelming. Home is where love lives, in the quiet, sad, loud, and happy moments. It is the place where I can truly be myself even on the difficult days. Home is the little things: family movie nights with popcorn and way too many snacks, board game nights, birthday decorations taped to the ceiling, the smell of my mom’s cookies throughout the house, the nighttime cuddles and “love yous” that somehow make everything feel ok. These moments might seem small, but together they create a feeling of belonging that wraps around me like a warm, cozy blanket. That is why a home is not just a physical space. The most important parts of a home are the people, the love and the memories tucked into each corner. The work done by Habitat for Humanity matters because they do more than build houses. They help families create a place where love can grow and memories are made. My hope is that every family who receives a Habitat home finds the same comfort, love and belonging that I feel in my home. A home that gently whispers, “You belong here.”