Where is Your Spirit Home?
It’s taken about 10 years of introspection and reflection, but I am finally able to enunciate my concept that a whole, authentic “being” has 3 centers;
- Mind
- Body
- Spirit
And you have a home for each.
By “home”, I mean the place that is the most familiar, where you feel the most connected, and authentically you.
Mind - Body
Texas is my mind and body home. I was born and raised and have lived most of my life in Texas, except for 15 years or so scattered between New Hampshire, Maine, and NYC.
Spirit
By “spirit home”, I mean the place you feel most at peace, grounded, and authentically yourself - the place your “SELF” is the most connected and authentically you. While Texas is my mind and body home, France is my spirit home.
I wonder, when did France become my spirit home? And I began thinking back about my life in a different way. I tried to remember those times I felt utterly myself, when and where I was. Doing so, I realized that, just like other life transitions - graduation, marriage, divorce, retirement - your spirit transitions, as well.
Taking on the question of previous spirit homes was extremely helpful in seeing and understanding my history more clearly and - better yet - objectively. I also realized I’ve been lucky enough to be at home in Mind, Body AND Spirit in the same, physical place a few times in my life. Looking back on my life, I can see the difference that makes.
Spirit Home #1
The first spirit home I can remember is New England. I say New England, rather than NH or Maine, because what was calling my spirit was the crispness of the air, the ruggedness of the terrain, the narrow roads winding through a tunnel of tall pine and birch trees. My first trip to New Hampshire was 1981. I moved to New Hampshire in 1986 and lived there until 1990.
Spirit Home #2
My second spirit home was New York City. My first trip to New York City was in 1977. In 1990, after returning to Texas, I went back to working in the financial industry, with Chase Manhattan. This time it was the energy, the diversity, the intellectual and cultural opportunities, growth and potential that called me. In 1998 I moved to NYC and lived there until 2003 when I moved to Maine.
The move to Maine was the beginning of a long period of inner conflict. I moved back to New England, which was wonderful in many ways, but my spirit didn’t transition back. My mind and body life were disconnected from my spirit life. I love Maine, but my spirit and soul still craved more energy, diversity, intellectual and cultural opportunities, than Maine offered. I stayed Maine, more languishing than thriving, for 8 years. In 2011 I moved back to Texas.
Spirit Home #3
Back in Texas and back to JPMChase, my first few years after this transition were full of work and helping my Mom care for my Dad until his death in 2014. In 2014 I visited France for the first time in 6 years and, while I didn’t think about the label of “spirit home” I knew I felt at peace in a way I hadn’t in over 10 years. I recognized the feeling and knew its importance.
My spirit home remains in France and while I don’t live here full time, I acknowledge the importance of being here. I am committed to making the investment in myself - and in my spirit - to be here with regularity.
Self-care is more than mind and body. Make sure you’re recognizing the needs of your spirit. I’d love to talk to you or help support your journey. Just reach out.
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