“The Perfect Place” Home
February 24th, 2009, Dream, Location, Home
“The purpose of life is a life or purpose” ~ Robert Byrne ~
Webster’s defines “perfect” as, complete in all respects; without defect or omission; sound; flawless. Rarely in our adult life do we come across something, someone, or someplace which is “perfect.” For those fortunate enough to recall a worry-free blissfulness of childhood, or a passing sensation of complete wholeness with life and our surroundings, the definition mentioned above will instantly transport us to such a moment.
When was the last time you felt, “complete in all respects”? For some this may conjure memories of family gatherings, financial security, or the accomplishment of fulfilling a difficult task. For me, it takes me back to my childhood home and a particular memory, or more precisely, a particular impression felt as a result of the most mundane of tasks.
As a child, on certain weekends when we did not have sporting events or other responsibilities to attend, my parents would begin their day long before I awoke. As I shook off the sleepiness of the early morning I would lay in bed listening to the voices of my parents just outside my bedroom window working in the front yard and follow the sound of their conversations throughout the house and yard as they went about their tasks together.
The soft twittering sounds of the rainbird sprinklers filtering through the air, the sounds of my parent’s industriously beautifying the landscape, coupled with the comfort and security of my room equated to my being “complete in all respects.”
Strangely enough, even at that young age, I recognized the lasting importance of the overall sense of completeness I felt. As I grew older I noticed how this tended to be muted and eventually fade away. I would suggest a partial reason for this existed in the humanistic tendency to be anxiously engaged in something, all the time, rarely pausing to listen, feel, and recognize the serenity of a seemingly mundane moment.
Can you remember a time when something, someone, or someplace felt “without defect,” or “flawless?” As a result of our innate humanistic tendencies toward perfectionism, comfort, and immediate gratification, more often than not, as adults we find in most creations some form of weakness or flaw. Can you remember a time when this was not the case?
As a young boy, our family had the tradition of traveling the forty-five minutes by automobile to my grand parent’s house for Christmas Eve dinner. The drive home from this event was always a quiet time of excitement for the pending Christmas morning. On certain occasions, after settling into our home we would light the fireplace. I can remember sitting in front of the warmth and continuous interest of the popping flames with my father as we discussed the anticipation of Christmas day.
I can remember knowing that Santa Clause was an imaginary tale, although still believing in the magic and possibility of his coming. As I enjoyed the atmosphere of the Christmas tree, wrapped presents, warmth of the crackling fire, and security of my parents companionship, my world was a flawless corner of a vast universe without defect for a young boy.
Just about all of my happiest childhood memories can be traced back to a general origin: my Home, and the surrounding environment. I believe within all of us exists an innate desire to be “home” no matter where we are at a given moment. For some of us, that ideal of “home” is not easily defined. For others, this realization is clear; however, the ability to realize the dream is not presently possible due to work responsibilities, education, military service, or the myriad of personal circumstances in which we may find ourselves.
If you find yourself currently longing for a defined purpose, sense of security, or overall completeness, I invite you to do something you may have not done in a long time:
Sit and be still. Let yourself reset. Be grateful for what you have; life, shelter, modern conveniences, the ability to be anything you want to be. It has been said that “Home is where the heart is.” For me, this is an absolute truth, getting our house in order can mean different things to different people. I invite you to allow your natural intelligence to help define this for you. Enjoy the process!
Tags: a life of purpose, ageing in place, aging, aging in place, baby boomers, boomer, boomer trends, childhood memories, concept to creation, creating a home, custom home, dream home, finding purpose in life, finding the perfect place, home, home memories, jeffrey crane, relocation, relocation consulting, retirement planning, the perfect place, traditions, your perfect spot