At home within yourself

Emma Watson is in the news again, and as usual it’s not for anything particularly controversial. But she did say something interesting and worth focusing in on a bit:

“People are like: ‘Where are you living? What are you doing?’ I don’t know,” she told Elle Australia for its May cover story. “I’m too young to decide right now if I want to live here or in New York or in LA or wherever else. And I really struggled for the answers the past three years. I should really know! I should really commit!'”

With the future unclear, Watson admitted, “I was like ‘I need to find a way to always feel safe and at home within myself’. Because I can never rely on a physical place.”

So, she got certified last year to teach yoga and meditation, something that anchors her crazy life, Watson said.

I’m basically a home-body, and I’m not sure I even “feel safe and at home within myself”. So if she’s managed that, that could very well explain why she seems much more grounded and in control than many of her peers. I can certainly see how traveling as much as she likely does could help you forget who you are and what matters most to you. Good for her if she’s found a way to stay grounded wherever she is.

I think whether she realizes it or not she’s said something rather profound. Ultimately the only real home any of us have is our body. If we’re not comfortable with our own company no amount of home decorating, coccooning, or hand-selecting friends is going to help that. Sooner or later we’re alone with ourselves. If we don’t feel safe and at home there we’re in for a rough ride.

It would be lovely if I could now present The Answer on how to do that. Sorry. As I said before, I’m not sure I’m there yet myself. It’s something to work toward, though.