What a wonderful, touching essay. You are courageous and inspiring. I love the idea of finding home within. I may borrow that. Have a great trip to another location while you hold your true home within.
This is a gorgeous post Priya! I feel like part of becoming a fully realized human being is becoming your own home. You are comfortable in any setting because you are at peace with who you are. The metaphor of a home inside of a home like a Russian Matryoshka doll that you echo with that different people inside of yourself felt perfect. That’s how I feel. I want to be my own home, but I’m not there yet. Thanks for the shoutout!
I have made my own space within my space. I love looking at it that way now. I am excited for you that you are traveling. I have never left India and that is one of my dreams! You have given me a new way of looking at myself and all those other parts. The thought that I could carry some of it and leave others behind is extremely helpful in my mental health journey ❤️
Although, unlike you, I have spent all my life in one place (Delhi, India), I have been struggling to find a place that I can call home. Many of my writings have attempted to articulate the very crisis that you have described—of not knowing when one is going home and when one is leaving home.
In the last couple of years, I have tried to build a home with my partner in Bangalore, but I have failed to commit to either Delhi or Bangalore as my home. I refuse to simply submit to the idea that a woman’s home is with her husband. Most of my work is remote, independent, because I refuse to let a job dictate my place of residence. Other than the weather, I don’t have an anchor to help me decide where I’d rather be at a particular point in time.
The “melancholic cusps” that you describe are all too familiar. I never know where I stay and where I visit. I have often wondered if home must necessarily be a single place; maybe it isn’t. But then there are as many fragments of me as there are homes. I can never be whole anywhere.
I am so glad to have found your writing, because it offers me reassurance. Maybe I can find (or create) a home within the places where I stay. Maybe I can be my own home. Your piece has soothed my soul. Thank you, Priya.
Thank you for offering your perspective. The way we feel is shaped by our different experiences but I think, at its crux, it’s a belonging uncertainty. I am afraid that if I leave, I’ll never be able to find home again and from what I understand, you are grappling with the uncertainty of what makes a home. I don’t have answers but I can offer companionship!
I just loved this one Priya with this notion of the multitudes that make us who we are. I love how you've found a way to talk with each of them, accept them and somehow loosen their grip at the same time. Much to ponder here...
We are sisters in the loving practice of embracing all of our parts (and apparently, speaking to them out loud) 🥰 feeling at home in ourselves, where ever we may be. More to come.
I absolutely loved reading this. I'm a creator of spaces, even within the container that I call home: space to work, to create, to write, to soak up the sun. Sometimes they're distinct, sometimes they overlap. But they're what I think of as spaces. When I travel, I have a travel kit, which I've refined over the years. This reminds me of the 'spaces I need to take with me' - a journal and pens for writing, a small multimedia art kit for creativity, and a small kit of items that remind me of home and ground me wherever I am.
Beautiful, touching, reflective post! Safe travels to you!
Thank you for reading, Nadia!
May all your homes bring peace and comfort.
Thank you!
What a wonderful, touching essay. You are courageous and inspiring. I love the idea of finding home within. I may borrow that. Have a great trip to another location while you hold your true home within.
Thank you! I’m glad it resonated with you.!
This is a gorgeous post Priya! I feel like part of becoming a fully realized human being is becoming your own home. You are comfortable in any setting because you are at peace with who you are. The metaphor of a home inside of a home like a Russian Matryoshka doll that you echo with that different people inside of yourself felt perfect. That’s how I feel. I want to be my own home, but I’m not there yet. Thanks for the shoutout!
Thank you for the inspiration, Jason! I loved your post!
I have made my own space within my space. I love looking at it that way now. I am excited for you that you are traveling. I have never left India and that is one of my dreams! You have given me a new way of looking at myself and all those other parts. The thought that I could carry some of it and leave others behind is extremely helpful in my mental health journey ❤️
Thank you for sharing, Ranjini. Good luck with all your dreams!
This is so beautiful. Can't wait to read more about your travels!
Thank you!
Although, unlike you, I have spent all my life in one place (Delhi, India), I have been struggling to find a place that I can call home. Many of my writings have attempted to articulate the very crisis that you have described—of not knowing when one is going home and when one is leaving home.
In the last couple of years, I have tried to build a home with my partner in Bangalore, but I have failed to commit to either Delhi or Bangalore as my home. I refuse to simply submit to the idea that a woman’s home is with her husband. Most of my work is remote, independent, because I refuse to let a job dictate my place of residence. Other than the weather, I don’t have an anchor to help me decide where I’d rather be at a particular point in time.
The “melancholic cusps” that you describe are all too familiar. I never know where I stay and where I visit. I have often wondered if home must necessarily be a single place; maybe it isn’t. But then there are as many fragments of me as there are homes. I can never be whole anywhere.
I am so glad to have found your writing, because it offers me reassurance. Maybe I can find (or create) a home within the places where I stay. Maybe I can be my own home. Your piece has soothed my soul. Thank you, Priya.
Thank you for offering your perspective. The way we feel is shaped by our different experiences but I think, at its crux, it’s a belonging uncertainty. I am afraid that if I leave, I’ll never be able to find home again and from what I understand, you are grappling with the uncertainty of what makes a home. I don’t have answers but I can offer companionship!
The idea of belonging uncertainty rings true. It’s always reassuring to know that one is not alone. Thank you! :)
I just loved this one Priya with this notion of the multitudes that make us who we are. I love how you've found a way to talk with each of them, accept them and somehow loosen their grip at the same time. Much to ponder here...
This is my favorite one too. Sometimes the words write themselves, and this was one of those occasions. Thank you!
I can so relate to those blanket forts, home within home. 😊 I enjoyed your reflections on how we carry home with us.
We are sisters in the loving practice of embracing all of our parts (and apparently, speaking to them out loud) 🥰 feeling at home in ourselves, where ever we may be. More to come.
I absolutely loved reading this. I'm a creator of spaces, even within the container that I call home: space to work, to create, to write, to soak up the sun. Sometimes they're distinct, sometimes they overlap. But they're what I think of as spaces. When I travel, I have a travel kit, which I've refined over the years. This reminds me of the 'spaces I need to take with me' - a journal and pens for writing, a small multimedia art kit for creativity, and a small kit of items that remind me of home and ground me wherever I am.
Debs, I love the idea of a travel kit! I take books but an organized kit to ground and creat home around you is lovely. Thank you!