1.19.2013

on learning to love where you live.

Fernweh means an ache for distant, a craving for travel, an insatiable desire to get out and see the world. It means wanting to be somewhere else, and for the first sixteen years of my life, I'd say it fit me to a T. I was always complaining about the Texas heat, promising I'd leave as soon as I could. Begging my parents for trips: "can we go to Boston, how about LA?" Signing up for camp at church so I could add a few more states to my list.

Recently I was re-reading my journal from last summer, a summer defined by traveling, and I came across a line that struck me, that made me stop. "I am always looking for a way to leave," I'd written. "What I really need, I think, is a reason to stay."

And do you know what? Somewhere since then, in between Saturday mornings spent at the farmer's market downtown and Friday night football games yelling our lungs out, in between watching the sunrise at cross country practice and sitting in the passenger seat of my friend's car on the way to school after late start breakfasts, in between magnificent concerts and funny stories we'll tell in twenty years and writing an immeasurable amount of words just to figure it all out, I think I found a reason. 

More than one, maybe. A million reasons to love where I live, a million reasons I belong. A million reasons to stay. They're all wrapped up in the sunset and the skyline and the roads I take to school each day, and more than anything, in the people. 

The fact is, I'll be off to college soon enough, most likely living somewhere completely new. I have plans for this summer that involve new countries and new states and I'm excited. Traveling will always be a part of me, and even though I no longer constantly want to be somewhere else, when I get the chance to explore, I'm going to take it.

But right now, when I'm here, I aim to enjoy it. Because here is a pretty great place to be. 

there's no place like home.

p.s. hey...it's been a while, hasn't it? 
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16 comments:

  1. Christina19 January 2013 at 22:13

    i love this. recently i've found that being a tourist in my own city is ridiculously fun. and then after enough times, you feel like a true local and that's even more fun.

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  2. Hope19 January 2013 at 23:16

    I absolutely adore this, Kendall. And I know exactly what you mean. Travelling is so exciting and new and perfect, but, and I'm quoting you here, "Traveling doesn't mean a thing if you don't have a place to call home.". :)

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  3. Unknown19 January 2013 at 23:34

    you're right you know. it's good to love home.

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  4. Unknown20 January 2013 at 00:44

    this is perfect. and so true. 'there's no place like home, be it ever so humble.'

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  5. Jocee20 January 2013 at 01:33

    i'm just fangirling because you and i live in the same city and I KNOW HOW TO FEEL.
    so yeah. ahem.

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  6. Elisha20 January 2013 at 01:54

    Mhm. I just love this so much! It's been on my heart lately.. xo

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  7. E20 January 2013 at 03:36

    I love this post for a number of reasons Kendall. I can totally relate! Your words were so eloquently written. :)

    ~Em

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  8. Rebecca20 January 2013 at 03:39

    This is true for me as well. I want to stay. It has grown on me.:)

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  9. Unknown20 January 2013 at 04:09

    The fact is, I'll be off to college soon enough, most likely living somewhere completely new. I have plans for this summer that involve new countries and new states and I'm excited. Traveling will always be a part of me, and even though I no longer constantly want to be somewhere else, when I get the chance to explore, I'm going to take it.

    But right now, when I'm here, I aim to enjoy it. Because here is a pretty great place to be.


    ^^^^^^^^^^ That right there. Thank you times a million. Those are the words of my heart that I've been trying to say for the past few months. xx

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  10. Grace 20 January 2013 at 12:59

    We might as well enjoy where we've been planted, because being discouraged never leads us anywhere. There is beauty everywhere. We just have to find it.

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  11. Molly Marie20 January 2013 at 14:40

    I loved this post, so much. After moving to Wisconsin, I've been known to complain about how boring it is around here, but I think I need to start looking for reasons that show me just how wonderful it can be.

    ~Molly~

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  12. simi20 January 2013 at 19:19

    sometimes, in the midst of wondering about other places and missing the people who live in them, i get sudden moments of realizing that there's no place like home. beautifully said, kendall.
    xx.

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  13. Abby20 January 2013 at 19:41

    I really really love this. I completely relate -- traveling is good and fun and spectacular, but it's really okay to be content with home. :)

    ~ Abby

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  14. Neeley20 January 2013 at 21:25

    I agree so much. I've also recently learned to love where I live. And I love it so much!

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  15. katie josephine d21 January 2013 at 03:07

    this brought tears, as I have the same feelings. you are wonderful, love.
    xoxo

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  16. Antonia24 January 2013 at 01:14

    I think it's not the lust for other places, but the lust to be free. Here, in our own homes, there are too many ties that make of life a routine. When one discovers the love for our home, one discovers ways to add delight to the routine. In a place that's not home, we are free from the routine in a way that allows us to discover things that, in all honesty, our hometown also could have (but in it's own unique way.)

    anaruizwriting.blogspot.com

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