Home & Garden: Our Home Is Our Sanctuary

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There truly is “no place like home”, and each home is as unique as the people, who dwell in it! The beauty of having a home is that it can be an expression of who we are, what we like, how we think, live and function. It is really ours to put our individual stamp on, and what a wonderful thing to be able to do! The difference between a “house” and a “home” is this very important factor: the love that exists within! When we fill our house with people, pets, décor, mementos and creature comforts, we establish a space in which to create meaningful memories that fill our hearts. We seek to revisit these magical moments, again and again, and this is what cements the importance and the value of our homes in our day-to-day lives. We all know the saying: “Home is where the heart is”; gathering with loved ones and creating a special place in which to do so, enables us to open ourselves to joy, community and to traditions (both old and new). Our homes offer us a place of respite, safety and peace. Be they large or small, elaborate or simple, they become an extension of ourselves and the people and principles we cherish. You can learn a lot about a person when you enter their home. To be granted permission to do so is a very singular privilege, and one we should never take lightly. Opening your home is opening your heart. You are giving others a chance to see you in your most personal milieu. In today’s society, there are many ways to extend the space of your home for both entertaining and enjoyment. Outside living spaces, some replete with kitchens, televisions, couches and pools, offer another way for us to invite guests or just to experience our home in a different facet. Planting beautiful gardens offers a wealth of benefits too. Not only do we reap the rewards of greater curb appeal, but we get to commune with nature and enjoy the beauty of spending time outdoors, in quiet solitude, or gathering with friends and family. No matter where we choose to live, how we choose to live, or with whom we choose to live, we will always know that we are blessed to have a place to call our own, and within it, to create a life that is full, comfortable, happy and unique!