Where There is Heart There is Home

When it comes to finding housing in Ann Arbor, nothing is easy. Even though we moved into the Stumble Inn only a short time ago, we are already on the house hunt to find a home for senior year that can accommodate more of our friends. The steps to house hunting are more complicated than one may expect. First, you must find a group of people to live with (have you ever tried to accommodate a group of girls? Not easy). Second, you must send countless emails to landlords inquiring about different properties. Third, you will want to tour you potential home (you will want to know how much mold is growing in the bathrooms and whether or not all of the burners on the stove work). Fourth, you must find a time where everyone can gather to sign a lease and go out for celebratory drinks afterwards.

So it's a process. And the more people you add to your list of roomies, the more complex the process becomes. At the moment, my friends and I are trying to accommodate 13 girls into a house for next year. Yes, you read right. 13. 12 of the girls are in the same sorority, and then there is me. Doing my own thing and dancing through life. Although I am not in their sorority, I am on cloud nine entertaining the thought of living with them next year. I love making friends and becoming close with people. They are funny, smart, hard working, and although we may need to make a few extra tacos for our family dinners next year, I couldn't be happier.

However, going through the housing process with this many girls is not easy. Everyone wants a certain room with a certain price next to a certain person. The emails are endless, and the planning can be a bit tedious. Nevertheless, we will make it work and try to accommodate everyone's needs.

The thing is though, it's this kind of situation when needs are confused with wants. I recently just lost someone near and dear to my heart. Death is something that puts your life in to perspective instantly. Suddenly, nothing in the world matters in that moment except for the people in your life closest to you. Death makes you realize what in your life are needs, and what in your life are considered extra luxuries. Not only does death put needs and wants in to perspective, but it puts time in to perspective. It allows for the realization that our time on this earth is not forever.

It allows us to to realize that we spend too much time analyzing and not enough time enjoying.

Too much time memorizing textbooks for exams and not enough time learning the material.

Too much time judging others and not enough time getting to know them.

Too much time counting calories and not enough time enjoying the taste.

Too much time worrying about how we look and not enough time worrying about what's in our head.

Too much time fighting others and not enough time listening to them.

Too much time looking for love and not enough time loving.

Too much time taking and not enough time giving.

Too much time editing ourselves in pictures and not enough time capturing the moment.

Too much time getting drunk and not enough time dancing at the party.
Too much time worrying about our hair and not enough time worrying about our health.
Too much time caring what others think and not enough time loving ourselves.
Too much time blaming and not enough time forgiving.
Too much time using and not enough time creating.
Too much time talking and not enough time listening.
Too much time thinking we are too cool and not enough time laughing at ourselves.
Too much time in front of our computers and not enough time traveling.
Too much time saving and not enough time buying shoes.
Too much time alone and not enough time with the ones we love.
Too much time telling ourselves that we have more time, because in reality, you just don't know.

In the end, how we choose to spend our time is up to us. But my philosophy has always been and will forever be, no matter what you are doing or where you are going, it is never about the destination or even the journey, but with whom the journey is taken. Living without friends, family, or love is to live without laughter, joy, or companionship. What the juxtaposition of death and finding a home in which to live has taught me that your home is not defined by where your key fits. Your home is defined by where you fit as a person. Defined by where you feel your family is. Defined by where you feel most comfortable living your life to the fullest, spending your time how you want, and being with the people who will allow you to do that. In the end, where there is family there is heart, and where there is heart there is home.

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Rest in peace Uncle Paul. Thank you for always laughing and never hiding your glowing smile. You will forever be in our hearts.