For The Daily Post’s Writing Course : Finding Everyday Inspiration.
Today, we’re tasked to write a post based on a One-Word Inspiration. They gave us six words: hope, regret, home, choice, secret, abundance.
I chose Home. I have many places that I call home. My parents live in Central Queensland, so that’s definitely home. Home is where my family is. I live so far from them, but when I visit, it’s like I never left. We just fit so perfectly together. I miss them dearly.
I lived in Brisbane for 15 years and I also consider that home, in a way. I have close friends there, I once owned a house there, but more than that, I feel like I really became a “proper grown up” there. I had left the university student life behind and I started to make my way in the world as a contributing human. I became myself in Brisbane, and so it will always feel like home.
That statement – feels like home…. it has been the theme for Qantas advertisements for some time now (see the video at the bottom of this post). As a frequent flying scientist for the last 12 years, I often considered the Qantas Lounge to be home. I was once asked in a Facebook survey – where do you feel most at home. My instinctive answer was “The Qantas Lounge”. As soon as I arrived there, I knew that the trip was finally over and I would be home-home soon. I could relax completely, have a drink, hang out on social media and just be taken care of for those couple of hours before my flight. As a frequent flyer, you really grow to love those extra little familiar details that some people might just take for granted. To me, they made me feel right at home.
And now, I live in Melbourne. I’ve been here for over 18 months and it really does feel like home. I miss my family and my friends dreadfully. Of course. But we speak all the time, we visit, we make it work. I know they miss me too and for that I am sorry. But I feel like I’m in the place I need to be right now.
I have grown more into who I am since I arrived here. I’ve made things happen – maybe just because I didn’t have the familiar around me. I forced myself out of my comfort zone and made things happen.
I started a photography business. I joined the planner community (which I love and will write about another day), I started creating every day. And this has led to a major career transition. And this new job? It feels like home. I feel like I’m in the role that I should have been in 10 years ago. Of course, I don’t begrudge the last 10 years. I wouldn’t be where I am or who I am without those 10 years (although I’d be decidedly younger!) and so I am grateful for those years.
I love being at home. I love going out as well, seeing the city, catching up with friends, shopping, all those things. But I love to be at home as well. Saturday is my day. I get up at around the same time as during the week, but I take my time, sit with a coffee and missG, and just relax. I generally don’t go anywhere on a Saturday if I can help it, except to the park. The best Saturday at home is the one where I can set up a little photoshoot – flowers, cupcakes, stationery, you name it, you’ll often find me shooting it at home on the weekend. It’s my favourite thing to do.
And of course, I can’t finish this without talking about Little Miss Gidget. Home is definitely where she is. I often joke that it’s her home, I just pay for it. She’s always there, always so happy to see me, waiting patiently for me when I’m gone for the day, always keen to curl up in my lap for a lazy Saturday morning snuggle. I love her dearly and so home is where she is.
x desleyjane
Musings of a Frequent Flying Scientist 
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