Home. It’s that spot where everything makes sense. It’s a place where the sights, sounds, and smells are familiar and they’re associated with significant memories or moments in time. Regardless if it’s the most beautiful place on this earth, or a small dot on the map that no one has ever heard of , ‘home’ is that one place we know will always have some sort of unique effect on us. Where we all go, is a different place, but everyone has one has that one place somewhere, where they get to call ‘home’.
The dining room window in my parent’s lower mainland home offers a nice view of the mountains, which is a sight I always took for granted. On the rare occasion when the rain stops, you can see the the snow capped peaks of Mount Seymour, perfectly set into a pale blue sky with wispy white clouds. In 2011, when I moved to a small town in B.C – I found myself nestled beside a peaceful river, back-dropped by mountains and an abundance of prosperous green trees. In a quiet town, I had all the time to enjoy the simplistic beauty of abundant nature that surrounded me. Eventually, I became bored with the serenity of it all and I missed the buzz of city life. Slowly, I began searching for job opportunities in bigger and more desirable places to live. It wasn’t long before my life in a U-Haul and the future of my career transported to a city, on the other side of the mountains.
‘Home’ is that familiar dwelling, filled with scents, sights, and sounds that provide the most comforting feelings, no matter the status of the world. Regardless of it’s location on planet earth, it’s a place of almost perfection; it’s a place we’ll always treasure because of every fond memory it reminds us of. Even when we decide to leave, for whatever reason we need, we’ll take a piece of it with us to remind us of our roots. We’ll pack up little trinkets, complimentary snapshots or framed pictures, and collections of Tupperware filled with Grandma’s secret recipes to come along on our adventures to make us smile when we miss home. That way, no matter where we go, our home doesn’t seem too far away.
Prior to relocating, I had never explored much of Alberta. At one point, I’d gone through as a road trip passenger, but didn’t pay much attention to my surroundings at the time of travel. As we drove from southern Alberta towards the north, I spent hours staring out the window at the rapid change of scenery. Shades of green and rich browns were being replaced by various hues of yellows and beige. When I arrived at my new apartment, my heart sank when I discovered there were no mountains to be seen. Even from the 1oth floor of my building, I couldn’t see any snow covered peaks in the far off distance; everything was flat for miles. Outside, my sensitive skin was quickly agitated by lacking moisture in the cold Alberta air. Since I moved in October, it wasn’t long before the wrath of a cold, dark winter soon set in.
I was lucky enough to experience a milder winter than usual, (massive snow falls were far and few between, and the temperature didn’t dip past -34) but it was still extremely cold for a human from the west coast. As I spent time wandering around the city, I discovered simple, unique and pleasurable venues that were unlike any I’d seen back home. I met inspiring people, innovative young adults, and my eyes were opened to a community who embraced every adventurous idea they were introduced to. Alberta had it’s perks and a few shining moments, but at the end of the day – it never felt like ‘home’.
I had pictures of my friends and I decorated my home with plants, pictures, and decor that reminded me of a place I used to know; it wasn’t enough. My heart thumped to a metropolis beat. I craved the hustling, bustling, noisy city streets. I wanted city air polluted with obnoxious sounds and different scents. I needed endless sounds of sirens and crowds of overzealous pedestrians on the streets. All I wanted was my city, because I desperately missed everything that reminded me of my home. Every single day, I missed British Columbia. Every single day, I couldn’t wait to move back.
I spent approximately 9 months of my life living in Alberta. There wasn’t a single day that passed, that I didn’t miss the view of the mountains, the sight of endless evergreen trees, and the smell of the ocean. Although it rains a bit too much in Vancouver, it didn’t rain enough where I was living. Despite constant dirty stares and insults, I confidently wore my Canucks t-shirts as often as possible and tried my best to defend my home team. I did my best to be the proudest ‘Vancouverite’ while I lived in Alberta, but it didn’t take long before I grew tired of trying to fit in with the ‘Albertans’. In time, I stopped pretending and followed my heart back home to B.C.
This world is a big, beautiful place full of so many fascinating cultures, ventures, and activities. Although it costs a few pretty pennies to travel the globe and indulge in all it has to offer, it’s an experience we should all embark on. Sail across the ocean, take a journey through the mountains, travel for hours or just take a short drive – go on some sort of adventure and expose yourself to something new. Wherever you go and however long you stay for, that place you call home will be waiting for you when you’re ready to come back. Whether you find a new place to spend your all your time, you uncover a new vacation destination, or whether you realize how good you’ve already got it – you’ll always have your ‘home’. That place that makes you feel, like you.
Take the time to grow, learn, and inspire yourself with the wonders of the world. Don’t be afraid to leave everything behind, while you see what else is out there. No matter where you go and how long you go for, one place will always be there for you. You can always go back to a place you call ‘home’.
