Our autumn issue is out now! A thought-provoking piece by our regular writer, Margot Tubbiolo, explores how moving away from home shapes our perception.

Dive on in to learn more…

The Hidden Gift Of Homesickness

A powerful shift in perspective.

by Margot Tubbiolo

“Every traveller has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering”- Charles Dickens

This quote really caught my eye when I saw it, and it inspired me to delve into a topic that is personal to me, and I hope other people will be able to connect to it. Currently, I am living far away from home, as I think a lot of young Irish people are. It’s no secret our lineage has been to emigrate, explore or wander. Whether that be by choice or necessity, given our history. Wherever you go in the world, you’ll have no trouble finding someone who is either from Ireland or has a connection to it. I think people who have migrated to Ireland will also be able to relate. Even though I can only speak from my background, I think it’s a universal experience to change perspective as you move away. I want to look at appreciation from this lens: an appreciation for culture and home.

I find that appreciation can be linked to a shift in perspective. Within the same vein, I believe we can become misaligned by a lack of awareness of what we have. In this context, I can relate because when I was home, I didn’t see the beauty it possessed. I also wasn’t aware of how special my connections and relationships were. When something is far away, longing and love can come to the forefront. I think that’s why homesickness can feel so visceral; it can almost feel like a loss. Memories can flood you that you took for granted. Like all the times I went swimming in the Forty Foot, or the food I got tired of growing up that I now crave or the language that I thought was a pain to learn. I think that’s why, as people, we flock together in foreign countries because we have a newfound love for where we came from.

Moving on, I want to talk about acceptance for the now. Appreciation we have for what is here right in front of us. From this experience, I have learned that if I were to move again, I would miss all the things about my current life. The way I have my bakery job that I go into every day, surrounded by amazing coworkers. I get to see my regulars and have funny interactions with them. I get to go home to my cute little apartment and cook some dinner for myself. I get to have people from home visit me and see the life I’ve built.

I think what I’m trying to say is that I’m grateful for every path I’ve taken in life- and for all my problems and hardships too. Something my granny has always said that has stuck with me is: “If you were to put your cards down on the ground and look at everyone else’s, you would still pick up your own.” I believe this means that, sometimes, we are even grateful for our problems, because they are ours. We’ve become equipped to deal with them, and we believe we are stronger because of them.