I have been thinking a lot about the word home, lately. In my home, we observe and celebrate both Chanukah and Christmas. The holidays for me are about family with a sprinkle of some traditions. There are many places that I like to call home and that is because I am fortunate enough to find solitude and peace in several places; I think you might find some of those homes a bit odd or interesting.
Walt Disney World
“Remove some of your invisible armor and just be”
As many of you know, I am a big Disney enthusiast. For the most part, I find myself fascinated by the fact that one person (surrounded by innovative thinkers and family) can imagine great possibilities and dreams and then make it a reality. I just can’t believe the risks Walt Disney took in his lifetime to make movies and parks that he wanted to even while having to invent concepts and items because they did not exist at the time.
Often, you will hear a Disney person call Walt Disney World or Disneyland home. There are even t-shirts made with the silhouette of the castle (like the boarders of a state) with the word Home written across it. A home for me not only brings solitude and peace, but also happiness. Does this mean we should be happy all of the time when we are within our home? Absolutely, not. That is unrealistic. But if you find many moments in that place or even just reminiscing about it and feel joy or happiness, it is a feeling of home…comfort, safety.
I can take myself and life way too seriously. In fact, my family and friends can probably attest to the fact I am a worrier, and I try to be the problem solver. I work hard like many of us. My brain is constantly going, going, and going. Walt Disney World, for me, has been a place that I can turn off the majority of my worry, forget a little bit about the world’s problems, and turn off the brain to enjoy a day full of fun and memories. I am not naïve. I know that there are those of you out there thinking that you don’t get it, at least not when it comes to Disney. I bet you do have a place like this, or at least, I am hopeful that you do, and that is home for you. A place where you can remove some of your invisible armor and just be.
School or Classroom
“We, you, are creating a place each and every day for others to feel a sense of belonging…”
I am fortunate to be at home being in the education field. I have been working with some schools on finding an innovative solution about the disconnect for students during this 2020-2021 school year. Through design thinking, we are holding empathy interviews with what would be categorized as engaged and disengaged students; both remote and face-to-face.
In a recent interview, a student shared what it has meant to be a part of their school during COVID. They said (and I am paraphrasing here) that school was their home. There was that word again—Home. How eye-opening is it that a young person would refer to their school as a home? Not a house, but a home. Not a school, but a home. We, you, are creating a place each and every day for others to feel a sense of belonging and maybe even the capability to feel some human connection during social or physical distancing. That is powerful.
My wish for all of you, as we end this year of 2020, is to find solitude and peace. May the new year not only begin with it a new sense of gratitude, but a beacon of hope. Happy Holidays!
See You Real Soon,
Erin
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