2025/Josai-

What is home? That’s a simple, yet weirdly complex question. On one hand, you could just say that home is where you live, and that would be the end of it. But, for most people, it’s not that easy. Home could be where you were raised, where you feel the safest, even your bathroom could technically be your home. There’s so many possibilities. For me, home isn’t a physical place, but rather a mental one. Home, for me at least, is the memories that I possess.

Life doesn’t always go your way. There’s bound to be twists and turns. There may be sudden stops along the way, a change in direction, or even an upside down part. Life can be a roller coaster. But home is the exception. No matter what kind of day I have, good, bad, great, terrible, my memories stay intact. Home doesn’t change. It’s like the roller coaster train, the carriage. Sure, the tracks may not always be steady, but the train is with you every step of the way.

Opinions change. Here’s an example. Say that a baby is born. Of course, everyone thinks it’s cute and everything. “What a wonderful baby boy!” “He has a bright future, I’m sure!” And then that boy grows up and becomes Hitler. Your opinion just changed from “He’s great!” to “What a deranged man!”. Your opinions on things will change, whether you want them to or not. It’s just part of life. However, there are many things that your opinion on won’t change, as well. Home is one of those. I will always be able to look at home positively. Those are my memories, memories of joy, memories of discovery. There isn’t much negative to say about home.

While we’re on the topic of looking at home positively, there is a question that some might ask: “What if my memories of ‘home’ aren’t positive?” My answer: “Then it’s not your home.” When categorizing home, you shouldn’t have any doubts. You should be able to visit it, whether it’s your childhood home, your memories, the favorite place of the person you love, whatever it may be, and just say “I’m home.” If you have a thought that it might not be your home, then it probably isn’t.

Let’s go back to the main question. “What is home?” The answer to that question, after everything I said, is that it’s whatever you want it to be. Whether a house, a town, or a feeling. You don’t even need to have an answer! But for me, my home is simply a memory. I can remember it like it was yesterday.