Home again, home again…jiggity jig.
That’s what my Dad used to always say as we pulled into the driveway upon return from our family summer camping trips. We’d then drag ourselves out of the old Ford station wagon and begin the process of unpacking and settling back into being home. I don’t remember much about how I felt except the start of a new school year looming in the near future and the adventures of climbing something in the wilderness were now a distant memory.
I’ve just returned from almost a month of in Australia. Pulling up in front of our Palm Springs house after driving back from LAX and a six-hour delay out of Brisbane, I felt a sense of work looming around the corner. Of course, we were met by the desert heat which had yet to dissipate and the process of unpacking and getting prepared for the next day. I wasn’t feeling so jiggity jig. Yet, as I stepped into my beautiful and peaceful house, I had time to reflect on what “home” means to me.
During the retreat at Sanctuary, we were participating in ice-breakers and asking each other questions. One of the questions I received was, “Describe something special about your hometown.” I was a bit stumped as I feel as though I have three hometowns-Thousand Oaks, California where I grew up; Melbourne, Australia where I had my tertiary education and established my young adult life; and now, Palm Springs, California where Ed and I live. Where was my true home?
Upon further contemplation, I realized my home is within me. On this trip Down Under, I spent more time teaching than I have since we left Australia 20-years ago and I realized that wherever I was teaching, in unfamiliar places, often to unfamiliar people, the teachings were the same. No matter my location, the teachings flowed through me because they live within me. So no matter where I go, they come too! Yoga teaches us how to find our home, the one that resides deeply within. Instead of looking out “there” for answers, we learn to turn inward and get to know our inner selves.
Something stuck with me from one of the Sanctuary Retreat participants who has attended the past two years. It was during last years’ retreat, that Duncan began his commitment to a daily meditation practice. When I saw him this year, he had chalked up 368 consecutive days, a reflection of his discipline and commitment. He said that what has helped him the most was getting to know “his inner anchor”. In the past, he had looked outside for answers and this looking in has had a profound impact on his outlook on life. It reminded me of finding home, coming to center, and getting to truly know who we are. Sometimes when we look within, all we may initially see is darkness. But the longer we stay, our eyes begin to adjust and we begin to see the light.
This ancient wisdom tradition encourages us to find ease with whatever may be swirling around in our outer lives, and goodness knows, there’s a whole lotta swirling happening these days. It’s easy to get sucked into that external vortex, yet our daily practice helps to keep us remembering what’s most important.
I was deeply content to be at home in Australia. I felt such incredible love and connection and I’m grateful to have returned to my other home with such an overflowing heart. I am also grateful to be received with such love and connection as I step back into the rhythm of my life here in the States. I am truly blessed to have this as part of who I am. It’s impact isn’t lost on me as I have found my way home…within.
