The place where love lives. Where memories are born and where friends are always welcome. The place where a smile is always waiting for us: our home. It grounds and comforts us, gives us peace and security. We feel here: a sense of having arrived.
The roots that give us stability
"Children should receive two things from their parents," wrote Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. "Roots and wings." A happy, loving home is an important part of these roots. Because it gives us stability, is a piece of home that we always carry in our hearts and to which we always like to return. We associate wonderful moments with it. The opportunity to let go in a protected space. The certainty of being surrounded by love. That makes us incredibly strong. And brave enough to spread our wings to discover new horizons.
The warmth that a home gives us
We love being outside. Even now, when it's getting dark quickly and the days are getting cooler. Nature is a gift. But when it rages too much, we are glad that we can always go inside and close the door behind us. We are warm inside, have a protected space, can relax, let go and simply enjoy. We can light candles and be enchanted by their light. Or light a fire in the fireplace so that it crackles wonderfully. We can turn our bathroom into a wellness area and literally immerse ourselves in the bath when we need a break. Too much stress? Not here, not now.
The sociability that makes it possible
A recent survey shows that 67 percent of Germans feel at home where they are surrounded by their favorite people. Whether we are hosts or guests ourselves: Eating, celebrating and laughing together creates the opportunity to build and deepen relationships, to feel closely connected to others. This works particularly well when playing games together: Here, ambition and teamwork, joy and competition, creativity and rules come together in a perfect mix. It challenges and encourages us, and strategy games in particular allow us to shape the world in a new and better way, which gives us strength and confidence. We grow, shape and tread new paths that we probably wouldn't otherwise have even noticed.
The individuality we celebrate here
In our home, we are completely with ourselves, completely ourselves. We can furnish and design it the way we want it and how we feel most comfortable in it. It can inspire us or calm us down, offer cozy hideaway corners or rooms flooded with light. We thrive in a home with beautiful things, and beauty ensures that we treat our property well and take care of it. It doesn't matter how small or large our home is, or how much money we spend on furniture and decoration. It is much more important that we create a home that suits our character. One that gives us pleasure rather than effort. An example from literature: J. R. R. Tolkien described the homes of his hobbits as safe havens with round windows and soft armchairs. Sometimes it doesn't take much more for great happiness.
The feelings it triggers in us
We only walk through the hallway. But it's the first place that greets us when we come home. What would we most like to see at this moment? A picture by our favorite artist? A certain color? Our slippers, just waiting for us to slip into them? Depending on how we design the hallway, we can virtually program feel-good moments. The same applies to the other rooms, of course. Take the kitchen, for example: if we like to bake, it should invite us to do just that - by having the necessary appliances and recipes to hand. For many of us, the heart of the home is, of course, the living room. What did we particularly love in our parents' house? The huge sofa? A certain wallpaper on the wall? By transferring individual elements of it to our home, we immediately bring back fond memories every time we look at it. Not forgetting the most intimate room: our bedroom. This is where we retreat to, where we relax. We create a sense of comfort with soft, calming colors. And we know that we will wake up with new energy in this environment, even after a stressful day.
The leisure we enjoy here
Commitment, consistency - in our fast-paced world, we long for them all the more. And we find both in our home. Here we can block out everything else, we don't have to be driven by anything or anyone and can devote ourselves to one very important person: ourselves. We can listen to ourselves, rethink our habits and set a new course. For example, by asking ourselves the following questions: What did I enjoy today? What would I still like to learn? What is distracting me from my goal? How do I perceive myself? Looking back and looking forward: This works best in a relaxed atmosphere in which we feel safe.
The gratitude we share
A beautiful Persian proverb says: "Four walls of one's own make a person free." And so it is, because we all want security and stability. Only when we know we are protected can we develop freely. An opportunity that not everyone has, a gift that we should value all the more. If we keep reminding ourselves how fulfilling it is to have a home, a shelter, a protected space, then we will feel deep gratitude, day after day. We can share this gratitude with our loved ones, with friends ... Let's enjoy moments of security together.