Redefining Home
Cultivating Love Wherever You Are
As 2022 comes to a close, I’m starting a new chapter in my hometown. My family and friends in Charlotte rolled out the red carpet with invitations and sent messages to check on me. It felt wonderful to be reacquainted with family, friends, and my personal belongings; yet my definition of home has made a seismic shift. Now, home is a feeling, not a physical space.
I reflected back on my 10-month stint in guest rooms. Each location was lovely; however, it was how I felt in the presence of my hosts that made it feel like home. Their unconditional love and willingness to sit with me in grief granted me permission to just be.
When I arrived in Charlotte, two friends welcomed me with arms outstretched, ready to dispense hugs and unpack my car. For two weeks, I stayed in their guest room, was treated to eggs with avocado each morning, and received wet kisses from their furry kid. I was welcomed to work remotely alongside my friend in the kitchen, rummage through the refrigerator, and hibernate in my room with my steadfast companion, Netflix. I felt at home.
Shortly after my belongings arrived in my new apartment, I visited my dear friend from Lyon in Boston. The pandemic and my mom’s illness kept me from my annual trips to France, so when she said she would be in Boston, I bought a plane ticket. We crammed three…
