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2021: Creating a Lexicon of Future
H is for Home
A house is transactional with value measured in hard capital; a home is transformational where ‘soft’ capital defines the worth.
The English word “home” is from the Old English word hām (not the pig) which actually refers to a village or estate where many “souls” are gathered. It implies there’s a physical dwelling involved, but the main idea is that it’s a gathering of people. One dictionary I came across online had an interpretation of the modern definition of home that I really like. It states that home is “the abiding place of the affections.” To me, that sums it up like nothing else. It’s not a building or a room, but a place where your love dwells.
The Latin root word for home is actually the same word we use for human being, person and people. At it’s very core home is where not just your heart is, but the hearts of those you love and trust. This is why most of our homes are adorned with photos on the wall. It’s a custom that dates back a thousand years and has to do with the fact that people hung portraits on the wall to show to visitors who their ancestors and loved ones were that once lived in that home. Today, we continue this tradition but more so to show the hearts and faces of the people that are welcome in our homes. ~ The Origin and True Meaning of Home
“Home” is a tricky concept to describe. It’s a socially constructed idea, really. Home is a feeling that tells the story of ourselves. It resembles who we are and what we cherish in life. A house may be the bones of a home, but it can’t capture the soul. That’s what makes a home. There truly is no place like home because home is what we make it to be. ~ What Makes a House a Home
