As much as it is a place, home is also a feeling.

Growing up, “home” was a place, a house, a tangible structure, a concrete construct. It was something I considered steadfast and consistent.

My definition of home has evolved over time and through different experiences. Now, I see home as so much more than the building we live our day-to-day lives in. It is a feeling, a perspective, and in some ways, even a conscious decision that we make to feel “at home”.

Three years ago, I spent several months studying in Italy and traveling all over Europe almost every weekend. Going into that experience, I was afraid of being away from home, but once I was there, that fear dissipated because I realized that I could make wherever I was home.

For me, the heart of home comes from the people you surround yourself with, the feeling of safety and security, and a level of comfort that can be built regardless of location. At the end of the day though, having one location that embodies all these qualities is something I will always be thankful for.