Home

Have I done a post about this song? Yes. Yes I have. It's fine. You can get over it. Should I be in bed, sleeping? Yes. Tell that to my brain, which decided to go into overdrive the minute I got into bed. It's fine. I'll get over it.

Anyway, I was thinking a lot about this song, partially because I went through my driving playlist several times this weekend and partially because I had the chance to go down to Mesa, ever so briefly.

Home is an interesting concept for me. It's definitely a feeling more than an actual place, at least for me. I don't believe is your actual house where you live; for me, at least, home is the place where you feel loved, wanted, valued, cared about.

I feel that in my apartment in Carriage House. I feel that in my Relief Society. I feel that in the Sunday School class I teach. I feel that when I go over to my neighbors' apartments. I feel that when I go to my friend's apartment in Royal Crest and her roommates and her friends now welcome me and expect to see me on her couch.

This weekend, I felt it in the temple, as I was surrounded by family, witnessing my brother be sealed to his wife for time and all eternity. I felt it as my friend accompanied on the 14+ hour car ride there and then another 14+ hour car ride back.

It's comfort. It's being at ease. It's love and sincerity.

My life has been relatively easy this semester. There have been a few things that have come up, some changes at work putting just a few extra responsibilities on my shoulders, and a few instances of hard realizations and conflicts about and with people I care about. Life always has something to through at us, though. I've found myself complaining, and this weekend, as I was reflecting on some things, I realized that it's pretty stupid of me to be complaining so much.

Why? Because I am home.

My favorite lines in Phillip Phillips' song are "Settle down, it'll all be clear. Don't pay no mind to the demons they fill you with fear. The trouble it might drag you down, if you get lost you can always be found. Just know you're not alone, cause I'm gonna make this place your home."

Sometimes, we've just got to settle down. We all have negative things in our lives. We all have struggles and sorrows and hardships. Those don't have to make things difficult. Our lives don't necessarily don't have to be hard - it's okay if your life is hard, I'm not saying that you're failing if your life is hard. I'm just saying...if you are forgetting the home that surrounds you, the people who fill your life with meaning, with comfort, and with peace, you're going to have a lot harder of a time. No one can banish demons like a good friend. No one can help you find your way better than a friend who sees the path clearly, and who is ready to shine their light.

I'm so grateful for the home that I have. And, I know that I am never alone, because I have people around me to keep me home.