While living in New York’s East Village, I became familiar with the Village Voice and, as a result, with “Ask Andrew W.K.” — a newspaper column in which rock star Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier answers reader questions.

I was always inspired by the thoughtfulness and depth of his answers.

I recently returned to one of the columns on being homesick — a feeling I can relate to, living in Amsterdam far from family and friends in the U.S.

The reader asked Andrew:

“How do you keep a positive frame of mind and a sense of connection when going through difficult times far away from home?”

Part of Andrew’s answer really struck a chord with me:

“In that way, there really is no place like home. There is no place or location or outer phenomenon that can provide as much security as the true home found in yourself. This is one of the many timeless lessons we are taught over and over again. This is what the archetypal journey represents — not the venturing-out or -away from oneself, but traveling deeper in ...

Every place I’ve ever lived became part of me. I’ve always been at home because I am my home.

And you are your home. You are home. Those places and experiences that seemed like they were happening to you — you were actually happening to them. Everything has always been occurring in the same place: inside you. The entire world of experience occurs internally. It never leaves you and you never leave it.

Constructing a home inside ourselves is one of our great life works. Cultivating an inner house of strength and calm that can allow us to feel at home no matter where we are or what we’re dealing with — this is our goal. And our experiences in life provide us with the tools and lessons and strengths needed to construct our home properly. The feeling of being yourself is being home. Stay strong and let your adventures in life bring you ever closer to yourself. Don’t be afraid. You will make it home. You’re already there.”

Dave Radparvar
Co-Founder, Holstee

P.S. I love the idea of “cultivating an inner house of strength and calm.” That’s one of the things we were aiming for when we started designing the Holstee Membership a few years ago. Learn more about what’s involved →

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