When you’ve been stuck inside your home for a while, it can become hard to appreciate it. The home, I mean. My husband and I have been stuck inside just like everyone else, but I think I have a slightly unique perspective on the whole thing because there was a time in my young life when I didn’t have a home.
It’s a long story for another time but at the age of 13, I ran away from home. I slept in public parks (hidden in bushes or under benches), slept in cars that people left open at night, snuck into garages that people would leave open, you get the point.
This was back in the late ’70s, before the age of car alarms, cell phones, and the internet. The public didn’t have as many devices to secure their property as we do today – if you didn’t use a lock and key, it didn’t get locked, and I may have been sleeping in it!
Not having a place to call my own for a long time gives me an appreciation for the ‘quarantine’ we are in now although I have to admit, I really don’t have an issue being inside for long periods of time. I believe my past circumstances have made me into the homebody I am today. However, when I do start feeling a little sorry for myself about the lockdown, I remember what it was like not having a home and that snaps me right outta them blues!
Another way I re-up my gratitude is to go through each room of my home, noting what I love about it, and what I may want to change, making notes along the way. When I’m in my bedroom, I’ll remember what it was like not having a room to sleep in and feel grateful that I’m warm and cozy. When I’m in my kitchen it’s easy to remember those times when I was hungry. And when I’m cleaning my living room I feel happy when I see the sunlight shining through the clean glass surfaces.
I guess my point of all this rambling is – celebrate your home! Be thankful you have a home, an apartment, a single room, or maybe even a camper. If you’re lucky enough to have a home, you have warmth. You have shelter from the elements and safety from the outside world. You have a place to lay your head at night.
We have too many people every day who are suffering and losing their homes. If you live in California and need assistance start with CalWORKs here.
For those outside of California, the National Alliance to End Homelessness also has resources here.
If you are a youth who is experiencing homelessness there are special resources for you here.
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