My Recipe for Home

"Home" is a simple recipe I can recreate anywhere

I wrote this piece in Melbourne, and while planning my upcoming visit home, I thought about it again.

When I wander from city to city, from country to country, the concept of "home" becomes increasingly fluid. Sometimes, I wonder, what is home really for me?

After years of journeys, I decided to formulate the answer as a recipe. Yes, a recipe. Because, beyond the fact that food is my official language, I've come to understand over time that home isn't just a place, but a feeling we assemble anew in every place we arrive.

So here's my recipe for home:

Ingredients:

2 cups of comfort
1 heaping spoon of memories
1 cup of familiar scents
2 spoons of routine
1 cup of friends (fresh or dried)
A pinch of challenge
Lots of self-love, to taste

Instructions:

Start with a base of comfort.
This can be a comfortable bed, or even a sofa you can sink into after a long day. In Townsville, it was the blue armchair. In Melbourne, I bought a comfortable desk chair. Comfort is the foundation everything else is built.

Gently add the memories.
These can be photos, small mementos, or even familiar scents. I always wear jewelry I received as gifts from people dear to me. Every time I look at them, I return home, no matter where I am.

Mix well with routine.
This is the part that turns a foreign place into something familiar. In every new place, I find the neighborhood supermarket, the lively bar street, and the regular public transport lines. These little things are what turn a foreign city into home.

Gradually add the friends.
These can be new friends you met in the place, or video calls with old friends from home. Human connection is what gives life to our "home."

Sprinkle a pinch of challenge on top.
Yes, challenge. Because a real home isn't just a comfortable place, but also a place that pushes us to develop. This can be a new language you're learning, or a new hobby you're trying. This challenge is what turns home into a place of growth, not just comfort.

Finally, season generously with self-love.
This is the secret ingredient, without which nothing will work. Self-love is what allows us to feel at home anywhere, even when we're alone.

Mix everything together, and let the mixture "rest" a bit.
Sometimes it takes time for a new place to feel like home. Don't pressure it, let the process happen at its own pace.

Warm with love, and serve yourself fresh every day.

Remember - there's no one perfect recipe for home. Everyone has their own special ingredients, their personal seasoning that turns a place into home. There are days when the recipe will work better, and days when it will work less.

But that's okay, because ultimately, home isn't just the place where we are, but also the place we can always return to - within ourselves.

When I look around my small apartment in Melbourne, I see all these ingredients. The jewelry from Israel on the dresser, the photos from journeys on the laptop, the suitcase that's been with me since I started this journey.

All of these together create my home, not just a physical place, but a feeling, a state of mind.

And maybe that's the most beautiful thing about this journey - knowing that I can create a home anywhere. That home isn't just the place I came from, but also all the places I'm going to. It's within me, with every step of the way.

So next time you feel homesick, try this recipe. You might discover that home is closer than you thought.

Your support helps me to continue experiencing new worlds and sharing them with you through my words. Sometimes, a single cup of coffee can make a difference.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Who Am I? | The Journey Through Time | The Daily Journey

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