Understated Ideas

If you look up the definition of home, you will find this description:

"the house, apartment, etc. where you live, especially with your family"

There is a secondary definition not relating to a physical space-

"the type of family you come from"

The idea of having either a physical space or an intangible entity called home is ingrained in us since we are children. The entire premise of the question "where are you from" or "where do you live" rests on the proposition that everyone must belong somewhere geographically- that we have a definitive place of origin.

For some people, having lived abroad for years on end means cultivating a stronger sense of who they are- a nationality, a culture, a city they came from. For others, there is an acceptance, reluctantly or warmly embraced, that adaptation of new social customs at the risk of forgetting old ones is a must. Yet more people have never left the cities where they were born.

Some countries instil a strong sense of pride in their citizens. This patriotism about their place of origin shapes identity, who we are at our core, effectively. Home and belonging are closely linked. Yet, belonging in particular isn't rational or logical when we consider how emotionally charged identity is.

Perhaps a combination of both a physical and philosophical notion of what home is fits best. We are shaped by where we have lived as well as who we spend most of our time with. This statement is presented keeping in mind that applying logic to a proper multi-faceted understanding of society is fraught with caveats.

After all, the idea of what home is depends on who you ask and how they feel about it. If you've ever asked someone what home is to them, how often has their answer included precise measurements about land mass?