As I sit here gazing out over the land of the free, I can’t turn my mind off. A collection of different thoughts and various emotions flooding my mind.
This travel daze began in Chania about 24 hours ago, and I have 7 hours left before Reno now. The longest flight almost at an end, 2 of 4 flights already completed, one short layover complete and one long one complete with an airport fort with a new Irish friend at an attempt for some shut eye.
I’m sitting here wondering if Reno is really home? Or if Greece is? Yes and no to both. Just a couple weeks ago I felt like they both were, also felt home was as simple as a single feeling. That feeling in your gut, that deep sense of connection, affection, comfort and love but with a dash of the unexpected. I still believe it’s all of those things and still believe both of those places are home for me but even more I feel like “home” is much greater than that now, it encompasses much more. I feel like it’s more than just that gut feeling, it’s a million small things and every emotion all rolled into the individual moments and memories that make up every day and every experience. It’s the sensation of living, of truly living and allowing yourself all of those emotions and opportunities. I don’t think home can be classified as any one solitary place for me right now. Maybe home for me is wherever I’m at, maybe it’s wherever I’m headed or maybe I am my own home. Maybe home is everywhere for me, and nowhere all at once.
Truly anywhere has the potential to be home for me at this point in my life. Any place or any person could be home and for any duration of time. This world is home and the surroundings of unfamiliar faces is more than welcoming, in fact it’s encouragement to make my life and my adventures my constantly changing home. My vow to make the best of each day and to appreciate my life more and the people around me more. Appreciate the company at my side on this long flight and on my connections and to promise to always see the good in people. The woman from Switzerland two rows up is traveling alone with an infant and myself and two other passengers helped her with that little one, Jack, to make it a better flight for her, for him and for us all. The little cutie without a doubt made me smile and was sweet as pie as he smiled at me walking up and down the aisles and as he slept on my chest for a couple hours allowing his mom some shut eye. The gentlemen next to me from Egypt who doesn’t speak English very well but still found the words to tell me he sees the way I was with Jack and asked if I loved babies, of course I said yes and he proceeded to tell me what an amazing mother I would make one day. He didn’t need to say that yet it was the sweetest thing from a complete stranger and made me smile from ear to ear. Then there was the gentlemen who gave up his two seats alone for this flight to allow this mother to be more comfortable with her son and the lady she originally was next to who was very patient and kind to her and provided little Jack many smiles and laughs throughout the flight.
There is so much good in this world, just need to open your eyes to see it. That’s why I believe anywhere can become home. It’s all just a matter of perspective and what you make of things. Everywhere is great as long as you choose to see the greatness.
Choose wisely, you’ve only got one life to live.
Sunset Chaser 