No Place Like Home

"You have plenty of courage, I am sure," answered Oz. "All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty." ~~~ L. Frank Baum, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

This weekend I remembered my first love. Not my first kiss (AWK-ward) or my first crush (WHAT was I thinking??). My first true love turned out to be my most lasting relationship. A love affair that will never die. A love that I'll cherish every minute of my life. What else could it be?

Books.

Though the series by L. Frank Baum wasn't my first encounter, the stories contained within hit me in all the right places. The classic "quest" with the quirky companions, scary antagonist, and "opponent who is really an ally" (the perfect twist) The stories had them all. And every day I crept to my room and slipped between the covers of my favorite books, discovering magical lands, traipsing off to new adventures, and ultimately discovering my Self through every tale I read.

Years later, I recognized I needed more. I wanted to create my own worlds. My own adventures. My own "magical lands." And it's as exhilarating and terrifying as finding myself in the middle of Oz.

I also remembered… I have the heart, I have the brains, and I DO have the courage… Click my shoes three times and I'm home.

And where IS home? Home is where we dream. Where we feel most like our Self. Of course, with family and cherished friends, we feel close and safe. Yet I believe that it's when we reach for the stars with our own fervent hopes that we achieve a unique sense of "home."

And just like Dorothy, we hold within us all the magic we need. Take heart, take action, and remember, there's no place like home.

For a Halloween treat, check out author Misty Fanderclai’s ongoing story:
Witches Anonymous!

--Chiron O'Keefe