Now I’ve never been a big fan of cliche phrases or truly believe in their syrupy meaning, but when absence leads to momentary nostalgia, I must vouch that it does make the heart grow fonder. All within the same moment, you can love where you are and what you’re doing, yet still miss home and everything that exists in the world from which you left.
With my anchored home miles away, my heart tends to long for the little things I never realized brought contentment. The Sunday brunches, making my morning coffee ¾ espresso ¼ milk, the sound of my dog barking when I walk through the door, and the simple action of checking my phone without the worry of wi-fi falling over my shoulder.
But more so than the routine commodities, it’s the people of home I find myself most indebted to because of this trip. For the past eight weeks, a group of individuals who I had somehow never crossed paths with, have now become my home away from home. Their presence is a necessary normality to each day abroad, making the chaos of Spain feel calm, and the unknown of what the day will entail feel comforting. And although I knew I would grow fond of the group I was witnessing Spain with, I never imagined the fondness I would gain for those absent.
So, to the individuals that comprise my family back home: it is because of you that I possess the drive to take on adventures such as this. You instill in me strength to take leaps along with bounds, and tear down my fears of your presence fading when I return. My time away has helped me grasp how rare your species is; the way you care, your humility, integrity, compassion, intelligence, and grace. You are the best of the best, and your presence manifested as simply: indispensable.
I now recognize there’s a role for everyone you meet, regardless the duration of their stay. Some people enter to offer distinct outlooks and backgrounds on life, progressing the values and ideals you choose to hold closest to your heart. Some are meant to show you something new, a personality and experience you have yet to encounter. And others, others enter your home and find a place within your family. It’s a place that gives light to your true character, and makes your heart feel whole. You come to realize they are the reason your life is filled with so much joy, and when time and distance separates your bodies, your appreciation for them grows evermore.
Yorumlar