One of the things I look forward to at the end of the day, aside from the knowledge that my work is done, is the relief that I'll be heading home.

I don't mean that I'm constantly in a hurry to leave the campus -- more often than not, I'm here long past sunset -- I just like the feeling that after a considerable amount of exertion, I get to go to a place where I can feel comfortable and relaxed. There's always a lot of work to be done at the DCO, and it's refreshing to balance out my job with the chance to unwind.

This feeling of comfort isn't just about where I live, though. It's about establishing a sense of belonging, a sense of comfort that I have a place where I can be myself, without having to worry about whether or not I'm being appropriate. A sense of home, as it were.

We put on a variety of personages as we go about our lives. While our intrinsic characters remain the same, we shift ourselves ever so slightly as circumstances dictate. We tailor ourselves to the situations we find ourselves in, and to the people we encounter along the way. It's how society trains us. Given certain conditions, we behave in certain ways, and present particular aspects of ourselves to others.

Defining the sense of belonging I was referring to entails an understanding of yourself, and of the things that make you feel comfortable. The adage "Home is where the heart is" applies here; the place that you hold most dear, for whatever reason, naturally comes across as home. You can also stretch the adage a bit, since any place you feel pretty okay with may qualify as home, if you think about it.

Keep in mind, though: that feeling of home need not be limited to a place. Consider your family, and your friends. The people you are closest to can also provide you with that feeling of safe acceptance. When else can you be at your most natural and most comfortable, after all, than when you're with the ones who care for you the most?

Take the time to indulge in the chances you get to kick back, relax, and feel appreciated. The world can be a very hectic, unruly, and unfriendly place, and it helps to take refuge from the occasionally inclement weather when you can.

We do what we must to get along with the world, but make sure that, as always, you balance it out with moments when you can just be home for a while.

[First published by Perspective, DLSU - College of St. Benilde]