The True Feeling of Home
And the different ways of feeling at home.
Home is a concept.
To me it can be something completely different than it would to you — therefore it is a concept.
The concept of home consists of many things.
Most people would describe it as “in their house”, but that doesn’t always cover the meaning of it.
Home is much broader than a single place.
In this article, we’ll explore the various meanings of home and what it means to have one.
The first feeling of home
People have had homes for many, many years.
The first type of home that we know is the caves pre-historical humans lived in. Those were by nature created shelters to protect them from the predators around them and the bad weather.
After that, people started building more structured buildings consisting of sticks and stones.
Around 10,000 BCE, a development happened: the permanent homes out of stones.
A major shift.
People wanted to stay in the same place, they wanted a settlement. Sounds a lot like the modern-day concept of home.
Culture started to develop.
These places didn’t have a sheltering purpose, but now also socially and religiously.
More and more things were added to homes over the years until we arrived in a situation where we had all the materials we needed.
2024.
People start to feel disconnected from their homes.
They want to get out.
Travel the world and discover the freedom of not having a permanent settlement.
Are we going back to that hunters and gatherers mentality?
What is true wealth?
Home is a feeling.
You can be in a completely different country, without any of your stuff, little money, and nothing but your backpack — you still feel at home because you’re with your family.
Or, you’re all alone in the mountains, hiking or just enjoying nature.
Lack of home?
Not necessarily.
You can feel at home, being all alone in a place that gives you peace of mind.
I do.
When I set foot on Swiss soil after spending 8 hours on a train, I feel at home — I feel the freedom when that warm air blows into my face for the first time of the year again.
Some people have a big house, a much of money, but still don’t feel at home.
They don’t have that feeling.
That shows that material property and wealth don’t always mean that you’re happy.
True wealth is freedom and happiness.
Other concepts of home
In Denmark, there’s a phenomenon called Hygge, and in the Netherlands, we have gezelligheid. Both represent a feeling of home, coziness, and that is what you need to feel happy.
It means as much as “a warm atmosphere and enjoying all the things that are good in life, with the right people around you.”
At least for the Danish Hygge.
The Dutch word Gezelligheid isn’t known in a lot of places in the world — and although it’s comparable to Hygge, it isn’t the same and it extends on it.
But data shows that people in Northern Europe are among the happiest in the world so it has its function.
In Japan, there’s the concept of Ikigai, which means “a reason for being.”
It’s the idea that each person has something that gives their life purpose and meaning, a reason to get up in the morning.
In Italy, they have La Dolce Vita, which means the sweet life, a leisurely and pleasurable lifestyle, whereas, in Brazil, they have Saudade, an emotional way of nostalgia for something that one loves but is far away or not here anymore.
Beautiful and tragic sometimes.
They might be different, but the theme remains the same: happiness comes from quality relationships, a sense of purpose, and enjoying life’s moments.
Final thoughts — the future of home
Home is more than just a space.
It’s a personal and ever-evolving concept, it’s our sanctuary, where we find peace and identity in the chaos of the world.
Home is fundamentally tied to our quest for meaning and comfort.
That’s what’s home about.
