a grassy nest
On Tuesday I asked you about freedom. If you could live always as if you were on holiday, without a permanent home or chores, would you want to?
A few people were enthusiastic, many wanted the best of both worlds, and quite a few of you described your love of ‘nesting’.
So I wondered, what does a nest mean to you?
Some of you talked about the emotional side:
A nest where I can be at peace and feel secure and where I can recharge my internal batteries.
Some referred to tasks:
I’ve never been a good traveler, because I enjoy washing dishes, making my bed, tidying up ~ gives me a sense of calm and delight.
(Another) Patricia
Someone who emailed me spoke of objects:
I don’t have that much ‘stuff’ but over the years I’ve gathered some beautiful treasures I love to look at, and which give me joy. They give my nest warmth.
I liked this idea of warmth, like feathers in our nest.
So what makes a nest for you? What is it that makes you call somewhere home?
photo credit: diane beckwith-zinc
I just put away my groceries and I feel so empowered when that whole task is completed. The ancestral lineage of hunter/gatherers in me rejoice. I feel comforted and safe that my pantry and fridge is full, as well as inspired to create and share. I also love that the items of my household have their places that they “live” in my home. From my toothbrush to my clean socks… I know where to find them and where to return them. Living out of a suitcase unnerves me for this reason. Great post.
Thanks Norma, I think you’re right, there is an echo of our ancient lineage in the safety of a full pantry and fridge. (For some reason I love the word pantry!)
Home is the ease of privacy.
LOVE this, Sarah!
i love what Sarah said
i also think home should be the place we can most be ourselves
so sometimes that might not be a physical location, but more a soul space
which is how i like to think of my home
a place which reflects the characteristics or things that are dear to my soul
Kel recently posted..big fears
Kel, that’s exactly what I thought about it not necessarily being a physical location. I hoped someone would raise that point!
It is where I can sing and rejoice or cry my heart out.A place where I can read to my heart’s content or write a beginner’s haiku.
A nest made of foreign plumes which have become familiar with passage of time and scattered pieces reminding me where I came from-a place where I feel serene and secure between flights,real and fancied.
Great picture,Tess.
A safe space from which creativity flows is what this implies to me.
I like having a place where I have (a measure of) control over the space, where I can have things the way I want them. My landlord allows us to paint, so I have a fairly free hand as to decor, so I have been able to “feather my nest” to my liking. I have collected items over the years that “speak” to me, and I like having a place where I can spread them out around me and enjoy them. (Home is where your stuff is.) I like having the peace and quiet I enjoy here. I’m pretty much of a homebody and quite content to remain so. “Comfort,” “refuge,” “peaceful,” “ease,” are words that come to mind. Me and the kitties, living and letting live. I mentioned in my comment to the previous post that I would make a good space explorer — I have the perfect temperament for living in a place where you couldn’t go outside — like Mars, or the moon. So long as I have my stuff, I’m content to stay put. I can travel in “inner space” for free, and wander where I will — in a good book, listening to music, writing, handcrafting or just musing. If I want to run around in a ratty old (soft!) tee shirt, or go barefoot, or bra-less, or leave my hair down, or whistle or sing, or dance to the radio, or watch telly til 3 in the morning, or watch the same film again and again, or listen to the same CD all day till I’ve learned all the words by heart, or make a big bowl of something tasty and eat it 3 meals a day til it’s gone, nobody complains. I have learned how to be alone without being lonely. (I’m part Gemini, and Geminis are never alone — LOL!) I suppose you can say that I am “self sufficient” in that sense. I approve of me and my lifestyle, and that’s all the approval I need or want.
WOL recently posted..Roses From The South
You’re lucky to be able to ‘feather’ your rented nest and have kitties there, so many places (in the UK at least) won’t allow either.
And what you describe about what you do in your inner and outer space sounds like perfect freedom to me.
A nest is an anchor. I like the idea of ‘sails’…
claire recently posted..Standing With The Sisters
claire, I like the idea of both!
For me, it’s a safe-haven, a refuge from the busy energy of the outside world. Even when I’ve been out having fun with friends, there’s always a sense of “Ahhh….” when I walk in the door. I love what Sarah said about “the ease of privacy.” That’s it, exactly!
Have you read Clarence Thomson’s book, Parables and the Enneagram? He has a wonderful line about how “Fives need privacy like small, edible animals do…” I can definitely relate to that!
Hi Jane, no I haven’t read anything by Clarence Thomson yet, although I know of his work, and I think a friend of mine has that book. I must borrow it – such a great line about Fives.
Jane I love the quote – that’s me too. I love people but I don’t always understand others and like to run back to safety after encounters – even enjoyable ones.
Parker Palmer said something about being careful with the soul lest she run back into the wild. I think that’s a close paraphrase – something about the shy soul.
My nest is being alone wherever I am — even surrounded by crowds.
Karen recently posted..The humming tree
Hi Karen, what you say makes me want to encourage my soul back into the wild – a lovely phrase.