"I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself."

~ Maya Angelou

Are you home???

A friend just asked me this question in an email. He was inquiring to see if we had returned from a three week trip to Germany and Denmark. After a long flight on an airline (that we will never fly again), a Lyft ride to our car and another couple of hours driving, we dragged our weary selves into our house last night. We'd been awake for more than 30 hours and were finally able to crawl into our own bed. We were home. And it felt to good to be there.

But just what is home?

Home is the place where I live, In which case, the answer to my friend’s question is that I am indeed home. And it feels so good to be here.

Home is the love I share with Tom. While we were traveling, staying in hotels, inns, flats, and houses, none of which were ours, when we would crawl into yet another bed and turn out the light, I was home. Whether walking down unknown streets in faraway cities, or jumping on another bus or train to a new destination, surrounded by languages that were not mine, with my husband of almost 25 years by my side, I was home. And it felt so good to be there.

Home is the people with whom I choose to share life. Those relationships in which, together, we have built a place where it is safe to show up as ourselves, no matter what. Whether I am with those people in person or in spirit, with them I am home. And it feels so good to be there.

Home is me. When it comes right down to it, my most basic dwelling place is my own heart, soul, and skin. Whenever I show up, if I show up as my authentic self, I am home. And it feels so good to be there.

Are you home???

Yes. I am indeed home.

In fact, I never left. And if feels so good to be there.

With thanks to David Berry, who always knows the question to ask.