DearReader,

Hello.

Isntthatacuriousword?Withfivesimpleletters,youcanchangeyourlife.Theletterscreate
thewordyouspeakwhenyougreetsomeonenewforthefirsttime.Twosyllableswiththe
powertopiercethebarrierbetweentotalstrangerandlifelongfriend.Itspowerisoften
underestimated,usedonlyinpassing,beingmixedinwiththegooddaysand
howdoyoudos.Thatsinglewordhastheuncannyabilitytoignitefriendships.

Itisthewordthatyousaytoyourfriendwhenyoumeetupforlunch.Itswhatyousaywhen
conveningforamovieortogoonaroadtrip.Youexclaimitwhenyouseethatverysame
friendforthefirsttimeafteralongtrip.Itswhatyoushakilymumblethenightyouaskthem
onadate.Fastforwardayearorso,andyouwillfindthatthefirstwordgaspedwhenyou
meetupatthatverysamestreetcornerwhereyoumetwithashimmeringringinyourpocket,
isasimple,quiet,Hello.

Wordscarrypower,andlockedawaywithintheirlettersareintricateemotionsandbeautiful
connotations.Yetwebelittlethem.Wecastthemasidelikeachilddoesoldtoys.Wedulltheir
vibranttexturesandtones.WhywouldyoueverpaintovertheMonaLisaordemolishtheTaj
Mahal?Thisintrinsicpoweristossedandlostinthemeaninglessnessofeveryday
melancholy.

Thisletteryouarereadingisasimpleattempttobringawarenesstothepowerofwords.
Throughoutthisshortdiscourse,Iwilldiscusssomeofthemostimportantwordsinmylife
andhowtheyvealteredmyperceptionoftheworldaroundmeandshapedmyidentity.

Nowdontgetmewrong:Imnopsychologistorlinguistoranthropologistoretymologistor
philosopher.Imonlyahighschoolstudent.Ispendmydaysinclasstakingnotesonpolar
bondsandmynightshunchedoverbooks,studyingforcollegeentranceexamsandbinge
watchinghospitaldramasonNetflix.Idonthaveanyfancyinitialsaftermynametoimpress
you.However,thatsnotimportant.Continuereadingatyourownrisk.Ifmydeficiencyof
prestigefrightensyou,thenIencourageyoutoputdownthispaperrightnow.

Areyoustillhere?Good.Letsgetthisexcursionstarted.

Inthathopefullyenticingintroductionthatyoujustread,IdiscussedHello.Therearethree
morewordsIdliketocover,thefirstofwhichis:

Home.

IthasmanydifferentconnotationsandeveryonehastheirowninterpretationofHome.
Whetheritisaspecificlocation,community,orstateofmind,homeisalwaysonething:
harmony.Now,Iunderstandthatitsunfairtodefineonewordbyusinganother,soletme
attempttoexplainmyreasoning.

AfewmonthsagoIhadabadday.Everyonedoes.However,everythingthatcouldfallapart
did.OnepoorlypulledJengablockresultedinmyentiretowercrashingdownintochaos.
FromthemomentIwalkedthroughtheschooldoorsandtookmyseat,Iwasambushedbya
testthatIhadcompletelyforgottenaboutandhadntstudiedfor.Now,toastudentwhose
lowestgradeisanA,failingatestwasapunchtotheface,andboydiditsting.

AtthatpointIthought,Okay,welltheworstisover,right?Whatelsecouldpossiblygo
wrong?

Thankstomyuseofthatclichphrase,thekarmicbalanceoftheuniversewasdeeplyupset.
Justlikewhenanysitcomcharacterutterstheabovephrase,thefloodgatesofbadjujuburst
open.

Inmathematics,wewerestudyinghowtofindtheinversesofmatricesusingdeterminants
andimaginaryidentities.DontworryreaderIdidntunderstandanyofiteither.Thatwasnt
thebadpart.Thankstosomebadbreakfastberries,mystomachandIhadadisagreement.I
proceededtospendmylunchinharshdiscomfort.(Illspareyouthedetailsbutletsbe
honest,weveallbeenthereandknowwhatitslike.)

Therestofthedayseemedtobrightenup,untilIgotaticketonmywayhomeforabroken
taillight.Aftertheticket,Istoppedatthegrocerystoretogetsomemuffinsbecausemuffins
areatangiblepieceofheaven.Whenbuyingthemuffins,astoreclerkthoughtthatIplaced
somethingfromthestoreinmypockets,soIwasdetained,questioned,andalmostarrested.
OfcourseIwasntguilty,andaftersomevideosurveillancedigging,Ishakilywalkedbackinto
freedom.Finally,astheicingonthecake,Ifoundoutthatmygrandmother,whoIwas
extremelycloseto,hadbeendefeatedafewhoursearlierbycancerafterbattlingitforfive
verygrueling,butunsuccessfulyears.

BythetimeIhadstumbledintomyhouse,Ifeltasifmysoulhadbeensurrounded,
blindfolded,hogtied,beaten,andslowlycutupintolittlepiecesthatwerethensquashedintoa
tinylittleball.Iwasutterlydefeated.Luckily,IrememberedthatIwashome.Now,whenIsay
home,Idontmeanmyhouse.Althoughmyhouseisnice,itsnotwhatIconsiderhome.
Homeisalittlewaysawayfrommyhouse.Ifyouwalkfrommyhouseacrossthestreet,youll
findalittledirtpath.Ifyouproceedonthatpath,youllfindamountainsideonyourright.
Proceedupwardsforfiveminutes,andcrawlbetweenacrackintwobouldersintoaclearing.
Welcometomyhome.

Theclearingisaboutameterlonginanydirection,withbarelyenoughspacetoliedown.
Treeshavegrownaroundtheclearing,creatinganimpenetrabledome.Theirbranchesare
intertwinedinawarmimmortalembrace,protectingmefromthetroublesoftheworld.Asmall
openingbetweentwoofthebranchesprovidesawindowtotheskyandallofitsbeauty.You
areabletoobservethecloudsastheydanceandtwirlintomajesticfiguresinthesky.Ifone
lookslongenough,youcanseetheconstellationscomealiveandjoustwithoneanother,
reminiscentofafireworksshow.Youcanliedownandbeprotectedonallsides.Tome,it
feelsasifImbeingembracedbytheworldandquietlybeingtoldthateverythingisgoingto
beallright.

Aftermyextremelyinauspiciousday,myhomewasabletobringmebackintoharmony.And
thisiswhatIthinkhomeis.Homeisaplacewhere,nomatterhowtangledthethreadsofyour
lifeget,youcangotounwindandfeelintunewiththeverytapestryoflife.Mostpeoplethink
thattheycanonlyhaveonehome,buttomethatisincrediblyfallacious.IknowthatIhave
morethanonetheclearingthatIdescribedaboveisonlyoneofthem.

MyhomeisalsoColorado,withitsteemingmountainsblanketedinsoftforestsandthe
babblingbrooksthatslitherthroughthevalleys.Thesnowcappedpeaksarealwaysstanding
tallinthebackground:youmightcallthemsilentguardians.Evenwhenyoureindoors,you
knowthattheyrealwaysthere.TheyarethebigsiblingsIvealwayswanted,butcouldnever
have.

Myhomeisalsomybed,accompaniedwithmyslumberingcat,nestleddeepintothecrookof
mylegs.Thewarmglowfromthelampcastsafieryglowonthewalls,withtheshadows
flickeringinarhythmicmotion.Acomputerissetuponmylap.Thescreendisplaysepisodes
ofsitcoms,whosepoorlywrittenlinesandexaggerateddramasalwaysseemtodriveaway
thefretsofthedayfrommybrain.

Finally,myhomeisalsomymind:TheoutlookIbringtomyexperiences.Weveall
experiencedthoseimperfectdays,butthatsnoexcusetopout.Weareonlyonthisplanetfor
alimitedtimeandonceourclockrunsout,we'redone.Theresnosuchthingasasecond
chance.SoIalwaysremembertolookatthebrightsideofthings.SowhatifIhadabadday?
TheresnothingIcandotochangeit.Besides,itllmakeawonderfulstorysomeday.Ilearned
animportantlessonaboutchangingtaillightsandneverwearingbaggycoatsinstores.Most
importantly,Icanputmyheartateaseknowingthatmygrandmotherhasfinallyescaped
constant,excruciatingpain.WheneverIfeeldown,Ijustremembertheverywisewordsof
EleanorRoosevelt:Yesterdayishistory,tomorrowisamystery,buttodayisagift.Thatis
whytheycallitthepresent.

Now,Ivejustspent1,500pluswordsramblingaboutmyversionofHome.AlthoughIsaid
thatIwouldattempttodefinethedeepermeaningoftheword,thetruthisthatIliedtoyou.
YoucantdefineHomebecauseyourHomeisdifferentthanmine.Ihavefourdifferent
versions,whileyoumayonlyhaveoneormaybeseven.AllthatIaskisthatyouobserve

yourself,andmakeanotewhenyoufeelawaveofbelongingwashovereveryparticleofyour
beingbecauseonceyouknowyourehome,nothingcantakeitawayfromyou.Itsuptoyou
toprotectitatallcosts.

Love.

WhatisLove?ThedictionarydefinesLoveasanintensefeelingofdeepaffection.Insimple
terms,thatiscorrect.ButIdliketoaddtothat.Loveisanintense,immeasurablefeelingof
deepaffectionandunquestionabledevotion.Loveisabsolute.Loveisntanirrationalnumber,
itdoesn'tcomeinhalvesoreighths.Youeitherhaveitoryoudont.Peopleofthisgeneration
tendtooveruseandwasteit,throwingitaroundwillynilly.

WhenagroupofteenagedgirlsatStarbucksexplainshowtheyLOVEBeckysnew
sweater,itsjustwrong.Amoreappropriatephrasewouldbetoenjoy,ortolike,ortobe
fondof.Comeonpeople,ifyouoveruseaword,itlosesitsmeaning!Witheveryonethrowing
itaroundlikeOprahdoeswithgifts,itsnolongerspecial.

TellingyourhusbandILoveyoumeansnothingnowadaysifyoualsouseLovetodescribe
yourpantsorafloor.Nowonder50percentofmarriagesendindivorce.

Humanemotioniscomplicated,andexpressingitisevenmoreso.ThewordLovewas
createdtodescribethehighestformofappreciationtowardssomething,andnothingshortof
that.Sowakeuppeople,andstartusingLoveresponsibly.

Now,ifIhaventboredyoutosleepyet,theresonemorewordIdliketodiscusswiththee.
Andyes,Ireallydidjustusethewordthee.Idontcareifitsoutdatedandnerdy.Imthe
writerandyourethereader,soifyouhaventgivenuponthispaperyet,youlljusthaveto
dealwithit.

Safe.

Protectionfromexternalthreatsandinternalcorruptionisparamountforoursociety.Weall
wanttobesafe.Wewanttofeelimpervioustoallforces.Wewanttoprotectwhatwehold
mostdear.Formanypeople,thatwouldbemoney.Forothers,itmightbeaphotoalbumora
lovedone.(Whenthatwordisusedappropriatelyofcourse!)

Wewanttobeassafeaspossible,sosocietytwistsandturnsthroughextraneousmeasures
todoso.Ourmilitaryisthelargestintheworld.Wespendbillionsofdollarsonweapon
developmenteveryyear.Anyonecanbuyaguniftheyreresourcefulenough.Yetwithallthis
protection,itsironichowwearefailingtokeepthemostimportantthingtoussafe:the
environment.

Peopleareanimals,despitehowmuchwetrytodenyit.Atourcore,wearesimplemammals
withopposablethumbsandaprefrontalcortex.Withthepowerofresourcefulnessand
innovationwe'vemanagedtoescapethefoodchain,andyetweforgethowimportantourrole
initis.Wearetheprotectorsofnature.Ourdutyistokeepitsafebecauseweareequally
dependentonthesoilthatgrowsthegrassthatfeedsthecattlethatwilleventuallyfeedsus.
Withoutanyonepiece,therestofthepuzzlewouldn'tcometogether.

Withtheadvanceoftechnologyandscience,wearecontinuingtodevelopthenatural
resourcesaroundus,notalwaystakingintoconsiderationtheconsequencesofthoseactions.
Some(COUGH)minor(COUGH)exampleswouldbetheBPoilspill,theChernobyl
meltdown,toxicwasteinrivers,canceralleys,andtheinfluxofCO
intheatmosphere
2
possiblyleadingtomeltingicecapsandtheextinctionofnumerousspecies,possiblyeven
ourown.

WevealreadydiscussedtheconceptofhomeandhowIdeeplyenjoyventuringoutintothe
woodsandexperiencingtheharmonyofnature.However,thatconceptwouldbeconsidered
voidiftherewasntaplacetocallhome.Inordertogooutandexperiencemyhome,Ihaveto
getinacarthatexhalesinvisiblegasintotheatmospherethatlightsamatchandholdsitto
theearthscrown,causingtheicecapstomelt.

Whatcanwedoaboutthis?Inmyhumbleopinion,weneedtorecognizethefragilityofnature
andthefactthatwearedependentonitspreservation.However,wecantjuststopusingthe
landwithoutdrasticconsequencesbecausewemusttakefromittosurvive.Thus,aswe
continuetodevelopourresources,weneedtotakeintoconsiderationhowouractionswill
affectthepeopleandenvironmentaroundus.Weneedtoconserveourresourceswithfuture
generationsinmind.

Whendecidingwhetherornottomurderaforest,wemustaskourselves,Willmy
greatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgrandchildrenbeabletousethisresourcewith
itscurrentrateofconsumption?Willfuturegenerationsbeabletomeanderaimlesslyinthese
woodsandfindsolacefromtheintricaciesoflifelikeIhavedonenearlyeveryday?Ifthe
answerisno,thenstopusingitandfindabetterwaytogetwhatyouwant.

Everyperson,thosewholiveinthepresentandthosewhowilllive200yearsfromnow,
deservetohaveaplacetocallhome.Thisplanetistheonlyhomethatwehave,andweneed
toprotectitandkeepitsafebecausewearentgoingtogetasecondone.Wespendour
daysprotectingourselvesfromthethreatofotherhumans.ButI,dearreader,imploreyouto
expandyourconceptofsafetytoincludenotjustyourhome,buteveryoneelses.Ultimately
weallsharethesamehome:Earth.

Okay,Illadmitthatmypontificationhastakenupenoughofyourtime.Iwouldliketo
sincerelythankyouforreadingallofthisletterwithopeneyes(andhopefullyanopenmind).I
understandthatImaunderqualifiedpersontobediscussingtheintricaciesofhumanity.Just

becauseIveexpressedmyopiniondoesn'tmeanthatImcorrect,orincorrect.Thatisforyou
todecide.IvesharedthewordsHello,Home,Love,andSafewithyou,andImgoingtoleave
youwithonemoretodecipher

Goodbye.

Sincerly,

NickTarasewicz

Abstract

Inthisessay,Idefinemysenseof
placeinmanydifferentwayswiththe
mainoverarchingrelationshiptoplace
beingaspiritualone.AlthoughIfeel
attachedtocertainphysicallocations,
thereasonIdosoisbecauseofthe
psychologicalimplicationsthatthe
placehasuponme.Asaresult,my
communityattachmentisa
combinationofrootednessand
relativity.Thiscanbeseeninmy
essaywhenIdiscusshow,myhome
isalsomymind,theoutlookthatI
bringtomyexperiences.Weveall
experiencedthoseveryimperfect
days,butthatsnoexcusetoput.Myenvironmentalethicisauniqueblendofsustainability,
conservationism,instrumentalvalue,andthelandethic.ThisisshownwhenIdiscusshow,
weneedtorecognizethefragilityofnatureandthefactthatwearedependentonits
preservation.However,wecantjuststopusingthelandwithoutdrasticconsequences
becausewemusttakefromittosurvive.Aswecontinuetodevelopourresources,weneed
totakeintoconsiderationhowouractionswillaffectthepeopleandenvironmentaroundus.
Weneedtoconserveourresourceswithfuturegenerationsinmind.