Vesper Flights

02Home is what you feel inside, not a location

Helen Macdonald has a unique take on what home means. She believes it's not about a physical location, but rather a feeling deep within us. She sums it up beautifully with the words, "Home isn't a place; it's what you hold inside you." As a kid, Macdonald was fascinated by nature. She'd collect all sorts of things like pinecones, shells, seeds, and leaves. But she had a special fondness for eggs, seeing them as precious containers of life. This led to her fascination with bird nests. Growing up in the countryside, she was surrounded by these nests. They were hidden in plain sight, a secret world that was both seen and unseen. When the adult birds were away, she'd sneak a peek inside these nests, curious about what was inside. She compares these bird nests to the dens she used to make as a kid. These dens were her secret hideouts, places where she felt safe and secure. Just like the nests were for the birds, protecting the delicate eggs that held the promise of new life. But she noticed something odd. Birds, to her, symbolized ultimate freedom. They could fly away from any danger. But the nests showed that they weren't completely free. They were tied to a specific place, a home, where they had to return to care for their eggs. This made Macdonald question the traditional idea of home. Is home a fixed, physical place that we return to? Or is it a feeling, a sense of belonging that we carry within us? The birds seemed to suggest the latter. Their homes weren't permanent; they changed with the seasons. They built new nests, in new places, each time they had to lay eggs. This idea of a fluid home, as shown by the birds, made Macdonald rethink what home means. It made her see that home isn't necessarily a place on a map. Instead, it's a feeling of comfort, safety, and belonging that we carry within us. It's a special place in our hearts that we treasure. It's interesting to note that birds go to great lengths to secure their nests. They often use their saliva to "glue" the nest together, making sure it's stable and safe. This shows how important home is, even in the animal kingdom. Despite their ability to fly and explore vast distances, birds still feel the need to create a secure and stable home for their young. In the end, Macdonald's exploration of the concept of home is both insightful and thought-provoking. It makes us rethink our understanding of home and encourages us to see it not just as a physical place, but as a deeply personal and internal state of being.

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