What is it about familiar spaces and faces that make them so nurturing? I plugged back into the energy of my family in Delhi, Cookie, Deepa, Sushila, and Jagat like a thirsty plant whose roots have found water. My bed, my LA-Z-BOY chair and my morning walk with two of them brought a sense of calm. The world felt like things were in order again, routine, familiarity, and things in their place put me at ease. My relationship with these people and my connection with my surroundings, envelop me in its warm hug.
On a similar note, I saw Dad transform from a patient back into a person the minute he sat on his veranda and was greeted by his dogs. His doctor was a strong voice in support of finding a way to get Dad plugged back into his primary ecosystem of support. This feeling of being held by a safe space that we call home is such a powerful nurturer of the soul.
The first time I heard the phrase “I want you to live life like a person, not a patient” was from this doctor and I did not pay much attention to it. Its true meaning came alive only when I experienced this transformation for myself. As a caregiver, I got to flip the switch back to just enjoying a meal with Dad as his son, when he was in his home enjoying himself. The energy shift was palpable.
The safe harbour of the home is particularly appealing when one has been through a storm. The familiar becomes the anchor that promises to hold steady as the winds of life threaten to capsize the ship. This analogy of coming back home in the corporate world plays out as we see organisations moving from a global worldview to a more local one. In a world buffeted by winds of change, the kind we have not seen for a while; the familiar beckons, and the family comes first.
“Home markets” come into focus. Adventures of expansion and conquering new shores don’t seem as appealing when one is healing. The need to keep the home secure and strong becomes the priority. There will come a time again for exploration and adventure, but for now, the focus is on the inner circle and the need to hold the home together.
In troubled times, relationships built over time come to the rescue. This familiar place that I feel connected to, gives me confidence, to find my way forward.
In crisis communication and reputation management; we talk about the power of preparedness. You cannot create a relationship ecosystem when you are in the midst of a storm, it needs to be built before. Nurturing an ecosystem of relationships and a place that you are plugged into (home), is a critical component of being able to navigate through and past a storm.
Even when we moved to Chennai as a family, it is the hands of friends like family that held us and helped us create a home away from home. This feeling of being held and hugged, and finding comfort and strength in those hugs, comes from the arms of relationships. I am reminded of the importance of making time for family and friends and colleagues.
Relationship building is an investment of time and energy that pays in ways one cannot imagine. My family of origin, my family of procreation, my friends from school, college and my friends at work all together have opened their arms and given me a hug when I most needed it most. This feeling of being held by, “the warm hug of home” has enabled me to find my way forward.
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