Home is exactly whatever, and wherever we want it to be, says Jerry Silvester

What does the word ‘home’ mean to you? Does it make you think of the new kitchen you’ve spent years saving to afford to have fitted? Is it the size of your built in wardrobes? Or, does the meaning of the word have an entirely different representation for you? One that has no relation to a material item or aesthetics. Is it the greeting of your dog when you come home through the door after a long and tiring day? Or, perhaps just the sight of your loved ones familiar face that brings you genuine content and the sense of belonging and home?

Safety, security, calm, reassurance, warmth, and escape, are just some of the feelings most of us hope to have in our homes. Rules and expectations from the outside world can be left at the door. For the most part, any expectations are on our terms.

The home is a place to hone in on personal hobbies and skills, as well as any activities that bring us joy or fulfillment. Our homes embrace our hardest times, they witness us fall in love, celebrate and grieve. They see us at our most vulnerable and at our most resilient. There’s no feeling like moving into your first home as an adult – the growth and gratitude for the tangible solidification of adulthood. Independence and freedom becomes ours. The feeling of home is curated by ourselves and is often taken for granted due to it’s understated purity and simplicity.