Going home is humbling. It reminds you of your beginnings—of where you came from, who you were, and how and why you became who you are today.
It doesn’t matter if it was happy or troubled, your childhood influenced who you are today. And a trip back to your home can spark amazing memories and provide wonderful opportunities for self-reflection.
Sometimes returning home can make you feel like a child. You may find yourself acting just as you did when you were an adolescent or teenager.
I have to admit I’ve experienced this–and seen my children experience it. While disconcerting, this “backward” behavior provides an opportunity to examine your old thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors. You then clear them out and choose something different.
You can remind yourself that you are different now.
Or are you?
I know I’ve grown up. I’m an adult, a mother, a wife…not just a daughter. But at my core, I’m still me…and the experiences and memories, as well as the things I learned, make me who I am. That’s important to remember.
I’ve been back to my childhood home twice in the last six weeks. Each time I found myself feeling grateful for how my beginnings molded who I have become. On the other hand, I see unwanted beliefs and behaviors I picked up unconsciously in those early years. I then consciously choose to change them.
Approached in this way, a trip home can provide a chance to unpack your baggage and leave some things behind or to fill a bag with a few treasured items you want to take with you—such as your true essence or authentic self.
What’s your experience of returning home? Tell me in a comment.
