Home is where the heart is…or is it? Community Correspondent Maureen explores the deep connection between home & wellbeing

A post by our Community Correspondent, Maureen Gilmour, exploring the deep connection between home to our wellbeing.

“Home is where the heart is” – or is it?

Your home is not the bricks and mortar or the fabric of the building, it is the place you should feel safe, loved, wanted, needed. Home for most people is where they feel most relaxed, safe and comfortable. It is your “safe place”, your own space, your own wee “butt and ben”.

For me my home, until recently, was the house I spent most of my teenage years, leaving at age 18 years, only to return with my own family after my parents death.

I inherited so much stuff from my parents, possessions that “came with the house”. I never did feel safe, loved or wanted as a teenager. I never felt relaxed or comfortable.

For most of my 25 years living there as an adult I was stressed, constantly tired, on edge, anticipatory anxiety taking over on a regular basis throughout the years. But this was my home. I didn’t know any differently – until recently.

Due to marital breakdown I was forced to sell my house, to leave my home. The feelings the this induced shocked me. I was sad to leave but in some ways relieved that I would no longer have to endure the perpetual stress, anxiety and worry.

Having nowhere to go, due to the legal system, I moved in with one of my best friends. I have known her for nearly 30 years and was happy to have somewhere to go. So, myself and my two dogs moved in and quickly settled. She made me feel welcome and it surprised me how quickly I was able to relax and get into a routine.

I am now in search for a new house – somewhere that will become my safe place, my own space to do with as I please, my new home. I am both excited and apprehensive at the thought of another move but this will be my final move. My last home.

A home is not just bricks and mortar, it is a place where you can close out the world and make a life for yourself, to be the best version of you, to welcome friends and family into your nest and relax.

I am a home maker and I know I will make a welcoming, comfortable, relaxing environment filled with love and joy once I find the right place to settle, to call my home.

As my son told me recently, “you could make a tent your home, it’s just what you do”.

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