Where is home?
I last visited Kosovo in 2019.
I planned to return in 2020.
Of course, that didn’t happen.
In an interesting way, part of me was almost relieved the world slowed down for a bit back then. It meant I could catch up. I could continue to heal from some really difficult years without the pressure of doing. Or going.
I love travel. It has always been healing and clarifying for me. Hands down, it has been my greatest teacher.
But sometimes learning to just “be” in your home environment can be the hardest lesson of all — especially when you’re not sure you want to actually be there.
I spent a good amount of time pondering where I fit in the world. Do I belong in my home city in Michigan? Or overseas? Can I fit into two worlds? Do I want to?
I’m learning I can’t answer those questions immediately.
I have to live into them.
And I’m not super patient about it.
Lately, I’ve been curious about what it would look like to find my home inside of myself.
How would I live if I knew that, first and foremost, I belong to myself?
That my job is to love Dawn in the best way possible.
To be a safe place for her.
To love her no matter what.
To take care of her as the precious gift from God that she is.
To give her permission to live and create a beautiful life.
To offer her a spacious sense of home, no matter where she is.
To gather friends around her who contribute to each others’ lives and to their growth.
So these days I’m pondering how one might carry a sense of “home” inside of them, wherever they go — and if that is enough.
I don’t have all the answers. But I am asking the questions this time ….
What do you think? I’d love to hear about your experiences and thoughts about this topic.
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PS: I’m back in Kosovo this summer to write a travel/spiritual memoir about my time in the Balkans! I’d love to hear from those of you who know me and/or read my emails…
Are there questions you have? Things you hope I share or include?