Feeling At Home: What Are Your Anchors?

Posted on 14. Aug, 2009 by Emmanuelle Archer in Blog, Expat Life, Home, Relocation
4 comments

Over the years, and because I’ve always led a fairly nomadic lifestyle, I have assembled a collection of items that help me feel at home pretty much anywhere – they are my anchors, and together they form what I call my “self-care package”.

Something for each sense

I try to experience the world around me with all five senses as much as I can, so I guess it’s not surprising that my self-care package has something for each sense.

- Sight: Favourite photos and at least one piece of artwork

- Hearing: Music, usually some strange combination of medieval chants, world music and ‘80s hard rock (mixtapes are my friends!) A recent addition to my package is the wind chimes that I bought here in Vancouver. I love listening to them on windy nights and they have become the sound of home to me. They are definitely coming with me next time I move house!

- Taste: Loose-leaf tea. Give me a good cup of tea, preferably Oolong, and I am a happy girl no matter how chaotic life might be around me.

- Smell: Essential oils and good quality incense. In addition to all the aromatherapy benefits, I find that scenting a room with a familiar fragrance is one of the fastest ways for me to feel at home in a new place.

- Touch: I take my turquoise blue pashmina with me every time I travel, especially if I have to fly. It is much softer to wrap myself in than airline blankets, and love the colour so much that I use it as a throw or a wall hanging when I get to my destination.

What speaks of home to you?

What would you put in your self-care package? What anchors you?

Of course, not every anchor has to be an actual “thing”, as long as it speaks of home to you.

A pet, a personal practice like yoga or designating a sacred space for spiritual work can all go a long way in making your new place feel like home.

A friend of mine only starts feeling centred and comfortable when her closets are organized – the rest of her house might be in a shambles, but once all the hangers face the same direction, she feels at home.

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Emmanuelle

Images by Tania Ho (top) and Olivier_G44 (bottom), both via Flickr Creative Commons