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There's no place like home

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Just when I think I want to become a renunciate and give up my material possessions, I realize how attached I am to my belongings. It’s hard to let go of stuff which carry memories, emotions and history. Sometimes it’s for the best to rid oneself of items with an emotional charge. Like the matrimonial bed after a divorce. Items may feel spiritually contaminated causing negative triggers.

The Sannyasa in Hindu culture renounces their lay life for spiritual contemplation, once their educational and parenting duties have been fulfilled. They rely on panhandling and society gives preference to charity for the elders over the orphans.

Some Buddhist practitioners go live in caves to meditate for days. With a food offering called alms, monks and nuns don’t buy or store food. They leave the monastery on a morning prayer and walk to collect rice in their begging bowl from laypeople.

An Anagarika is a “homeless one” living in a forest monastery with the rule not to touch money. Catholic priests and nuns also forsake many earthly desires to focus on the divine. Some westerners can be found at various ashrams around the world to find their spiritual clarity. Commune style living has chores and duties as part of the accommodations.

Collecting material possessions is mostly a comfort factor. We buy appliances like a dishwasher and washing machine to save us work, time and stress. We buy TVs to entertain ourselves and escape from the daily grind. We buy comfy sofas to recline on, and surround ourselves with other luxuries to make us feel good. We create gourmet kitchens to feed ourselves and our families with tasty food.

There comes a time when all we want is to click our ruby reds three times and say, “There’s no place like home”. After travelling and sleeping on long flights, eating unfamiliar food, roaming from one hotel or hostel to the next, there’s nothing like coming home.

In one’s own bed, there’s the familiar feel of your own pillows and blankets. Even the scent of home when walking in the door can be distinct from place to place. When my one son visited my friend’s home and sniffed the air he said, “A yogi lives here.” The aroma of incense was the tip. Smell can be a very strong link to memory. Apple pie, fresh bread, cooking garlic, hotel soap, Pine Sol cleaner and other scents summon many soothing memories of home.

My other son said that when he grows up, he wants to buy me a million-dollar home. As cute and generous as it was, I replied, “Just send me on a world-wide retirement cruise, as all I want to do is travel and not be tied down.”

With the best of both worlds, there’s the comfort of my cozy little cabin, someone to serve up the cooking and the luxury adventure of seeing the world. I’ll just be sure to fly out often to babysit future grandkids.

Elissa Scott is an artist and home couture stylist. (780) 240-5358 or elissa@gruuvyroomz.com.

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