Home.

A reflection by Jill Lacasse

Home is a feeling … not a place.

I used to think home was defined by four walls

Walls strewn with quirky plaques

Reminding us that if we wanted breakfast in bed

We had to sleep in the kitchen.

Couches lined with cozy cushions and pampered pets

Rooms filled with luscious beds and thick blankets

Cars filling the garage and driveways

Shelves lined with black and white pictures from past family vacations

From past celebrations

Graduations

Confirmations

of successful and bright futures ahead.

Home is a feeling … not a place.

I used to think home was defined by familiar sounds

Mom sizzling eggs for breakfast and popping toast from the toaster

The clock on the kitchen wall

dinging as the next hour passed

The dogs barking, excited to welcome new and old visitors

The chimes gently singing on the porch

As the warm and familiar wind touches your cheeks

As you rocked softly back and forth on the porch swing

Birds sweetly chirping in their homes built in the birch trees

Firmly rooted in the front yard

and the low murmur of the television coming from the living room

accompanied with laughter and cuddling as movies played

movies to remind us that we are just as weird

and dysfunctional

as every other family

on the screen.

Home is a feeling … not a place.

I used to think home was defined by familiar smells

The succulent wafts of mom’s famous stewed cabbage and apples

The sweet aroma of the flowers smiling in the sunshine of the garden

And the not so pleasant smells

The dogs’ droppings in the yard

Or the rancid cat litter that is screaming to be changed

Or the soiled socks hiding under your brother’s bed.

Home is a feeling … not a place.

Now I know that home

is not defined by the things around you

The comforting sounds

or welcoming smells.

Home is defined by the peace within

The sense of belonging

The feeling of being

Fully present

Fully alive

Fully aware

Glowing with love

Flowing from

Your heart

Your lips

and

your actions.

Home is the feeling

of being held by Mother Earth

Of being supported by friends and family

The beautiful souls surrounding you

Making you feel completely balanced

And in tune with the spirit within.

Home is the feeling

of discovering new parts of yourself

of learning and growing and evolving

of allowing your soul to shine

without judgment

without criticism

without an objective

only play.

Home is the feeling

Of dancing under the moonlight

Of skinny-dipping in the lake

Of singing campfire songs surrounded by laughter

Of late-night deep talks about

eternity, harmony

and immortality.

Home is the feeling

Of being free to be yourself

Surrounded by like minded people

Where weird is normal

And normal is weird.

Home is the feeling

Of being

Of belonging

Of balancing

Of loving

Of living.

About Jill:

Jill is a health enthusiast passionate about holistic living through being conscious of the mind, body and spirit connection. She is a free-spirited veggie-loving yoga teacher that loves any kind of adventure that comes her way, whether that is rock climbing, paddle boarding, waterfall rappelling, cliff jumping or learning a new inversion. She finds balance and inspiration in her happy place of being in nature and swimming in the ocean. She ensures that everything she does is in alignment with her truth – to have a grateful and vulnerable heart in order to live in a positive and light filled way.

Follow her yoga journey on Instagram: @theveggievillager.