Ask yourself what things in your home matter to you. You may realize that these are mostly little things, some may even be ordinary or inexpensive, that give you comfort, warmth, and a joy that quietly bubbles up inside you when you look at them. Perhaps it’s not even tangible, it could be a particular scent that reassures you that you’re home the moment you come in the front door, or even the peace and quiet you feel as you walk from room to room.
I asked friends and family to give me a list of the things they treasure. The answers made me smile because I understood why and I got to know them even more. You will too if you do this exercise and ask your loved ones to come up with their own lists.
Roots and Rituals
People who leave their home country to start a life somewhere else usually feel trepidation and excitement. The spirit settles as the years pass. You find work to be able to live comfortably, a community where you and your family belong to, and pursuits that you deeply enjoy. Yet, no matter how long you live in a foreign land, there will always be a bond that tethers you to your roots. You display keepsakes around your home. Reminiscing is a ritual that keeps you grounded in what was once an unfamiliar place which you now call home.
From Dawn to Dusk 
They wake you up at 3 in the morning when the break of dawn is still a couple of hours away. But you adjust because that is their nature and you love them to bits. Besides, they are what make your house a home, as well as your little Temple Boy that you found in a junk shop somewhere in the city. When dusk falls and you are lucky enough to have a home that offers you a front seat to one of Manila’s spectacular shows, you slow down and toast the sun before it goes to bed.
The Many Homes You Carry Inside
Most of us call many places home in our lifetime, just like this millennial. With each dwelling she left, she brought mementos that she squirreled away in her heart…a whiff of cinnamon, the anthemic music of a rock band, a beloved child’s painting. There’s a whole world we carry inside us from all the homes we lived in before. So when we open the door to the one we have now, we feel centered. Having this feeling of belonging deep in our bones gives us the confidence to keep stepping out into the big wide world.
Bloom in Your Own Time
She loves flowers and sunrise and birthday cards and coffee in her favorite mug and home-cooked food. She spread her wings and flew to another place to follow a dream. The journey wasn’t easy but she is the type to bloom where she is planted. She built a home with someone she loves and life is coming up roses…and daisies…and hydrangeas…and hollyhocks…
Creatures and Companions
This Gen Z likes to have these creatures as roommates. He got them from friends and relatives. He bought the plushie for himself as a souvenir for a concert he missed because the tickets sold out too quickly. So there they all are, keeping him company in a home that is far away from family. The art print has a twin which he keeps in the family home in the province. He said, “…this one brings a nice comfort in my apartment in the city.”
The Busy Boy
Who would have thought that a little patch of dirt at the back of the house would be something precious? But it is for this busy little boy. He loves basketball, biking, soccer, painting, cooking, swimming, reading, gaming, dancing, watching movies, etc. Now he is into electronic kits and learning programming and coding. When he finishes something, he has to go to his grandparents’ room (another of his fave places in the house) to show them. A busy bee like him needs energy and that is why he gives a big grin when there is GOOD FOOD (all caps said with great enthusiasm).
The Little Things That Matter
Try this little exercise. Ask yourself what are the little things that matter to you that make your house a home. It’s a fun activity and also one that would make your heart light. Be thankful for every little thing. The more you appreciate, the brighter your life.
Thank you to those who have answered my call to send me five precious little things about their home that deeply matter to them.
Share your own little things that matter in the comment section below. You can also send an email to [email protected]. In the meantime, subscribe to this blog.
