The Meaning of Home

The literal meaning of home is “The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household,” however, there is much more to it than this. Home is where one can be himself without any shame. Home is the place where one is with relatives and is never alone. Home is the place where one makes memories they will remember for the rest of their life, it isn’t just the place that provides one with shelter, this in fact, is the definition of a house, not even remotely close to that of a home. Animals don’t have roofs above their heads, they stay in the open air of mother nature. Does this mean they don’t have homes? No. Wherever they stay alongside their family is their home. To me, home is the place where we have our personal belongings, it is a place we can describe from memory and without failure, it is the place where we can make physical representations of our past, and is the place where we feel secure, with our loved ones. When at home we feel a sense of safety and can wander around it fearlessly and wirelessly. It is the place where we eat, drink, play and sleep. Without a home, we would constantly feel melancholy, solitary, and a feeling that danger could arrive any second. Thus, we must provide those who cannot afford to put a roof above their head with enough cash to buy a secure house, which will eventually, after the memories have built up, become a home. After all, as Pliny the Elder once said, “Home is where the heart is.”