Resolutions really are not my thing, however, I love the time of the year between Christmas and New Years. It is an ideal time to spend with family, reflect on the past year, and look forward to what the new calendar year might offer.

The year of 2014 has been bittersweet for me. It has been the most challenging year, but I will remember it as a year of transformation instead of a year of despair. I have much gratitude for the experiences I have had, and the people I have met, and the chaos it has brought. Because in this chaos, it becomes glaringly clear where my priorities truly are, and helps me arrange the rest of my life to support these priorities instead of compete with them. I want to take the next few posts to explore the transformation and priority shifts of 2014.

Waiting for a Home

It is very unsettling to move.  In the past 18 months, I have moved 4 times.  Five times if you count the last 5 weeks I have lived with my parents (see last blog post).  I got a new job in a different state, we sold our house sooner than expected, we moved into an apartment, my start date got delayed, we moved into a different apartment, we bought a house, my husband moved with all of our belongings, I remained back to finish my job.  We still live apart.  And I had a lot of work travel.  A favorite topic of conversation with friends is where I am currently living.  While this is chaotic, this is only a small glimpse of what it feels like to be “waiting for a home”.  Whether it be a dog in foster care waiting for a forever home, a child waiting for an adoptive family, a student trying to make ends meet by couch surfing, or a divorce disrupting a home.

What makes a Home?

This chaos does cause a small amount of baseline stress, but overall it is not nearly as disruptive as people expect.  At no time did I ever feel homeless.  It was kind of fun playing the “where am I?” game ever morning I wake up.  This has caused me to reflect on what makes a home.  What do I need to feel secure?  The obvious answer is family.  It feels like home when I am with family (husband, sisters, parents, dog).  When I am living alone in my studio apartment with borrowed furniture, it feels like home when I have a few things of my own (wall decor, a chair, candle with familiar scent).  When I travel, I feel at home when I unpack a few items of clothing.  So far, it seems that a home can be anywhere, if you make it a priority.

Essentials

We have so many possessions.  I am continuously impressed by those that sell their belongings in search of a simple, minimalistic life.  Moving often and living in a constant state of change, I have realized that I need a few items (independent of family) to make me feel at home.

• my yoga mat…for practice or seeking out a yoga studio
• a book…preferably one I have already started reading
• my laptop and phone…to stay connected
• running shoes…getting to know my surroundings via running prevents feeling “lost”
• coconut oil or almond oil…for my dry skin and the scent reminds me of home
• a journal with my favorite pens…for something I witnessed that reminds me of how small the world is

In the past 6 months, with these few items, I never felt out of place or lost, even though I am still waiting for a home.  Stopping, pausing, being present with what I truly need helps to ground, center, and prevent chaos from becoming overwhelming.