September 19, 2014 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings
 
   “Home is where the heart is” - we’ve probably all heard this quote many times in our lives, and may have even used it a time or two ourselves.

   To some people, this refers to the building in which they reside.  They take great pride in their houses and yards, making them as large and beautiful as they can.  They invest lots of time, money and energy into these dwellings.  In some cases, to the point that it no longer appears as if real people live in the home, it is just so perfect.

   In other cases, the home in question could refer to the workplace, if that is where you end up spending the majority of your time and energy.

   Along a similar vein, time spent on special hobbies could be considered a home as you often put your best efforts - aka heart - into them.

   To others, the home refers to the people around them.  This includes family members, close friends, and work colleagues.  It is the daily interactions with the people you love the most that makes a home.

   But here’s another way to look at that quote.

   Where is your real heart?  I’m referring to the organ that pumps blood around your body and keeps you alive.

   It’s in the middle of your torso, in your body.

   So that means that home is literally your body.

   How many of us feel “at home” in our bodies?  How many of us can say we feel totally comfortable in our own skin?

   If we look around us, we see countless ads and products for improving our bodies from makeup to exercise equipment, diets to surgery, and much more.

   As a society, we tend to either put too much emphasis on changing our bodies - thus hiding them behind a mask or veneer - or too much emphasis on neglecting our bodies - through poor habits or certain mental or spiritual pursuits.

   We tend to have a public and a private persona and what other people see depends on our location.  What would happen if you let yourself be totally at home in your body?  As you are, who you are.  And what would happen if you shared that particular you with those around you?

Beth

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