I found myself using the phrase “home” when asked about my plans for the holidays. It’s a natural instinct, I suppose, to refer to where one grew up and lived most of one’s life as “home.”

But it’s not anymore. I no longer have a home in Wisconsin. For the first time in my life, I’m a resident of another state. However, I’ve been quite a nomad this past year. I’ve only recently had a mailing address that matched my physical address.

When I realized I was using “home” to refer to Wisconsin, I bristled internally and switched my language. I’d say I was going to Wisconsin for the holidays, like it was a destination. I say I’m going to Colorado or Portugal, so I also will say I’m going to Wisconsin.

At this point it is a choice and a destination. It’s appropriate to refer to it that way.

‘Home’ for the holidays

For the first time since I graduated from college, I stayed in the home where I grew up. We played musical sleeping spots for a few nights until everyone finally figured out what was most comfortable. The experience might lead to its own column, but for now, let’s say I’m not a fan of memory foam.

My sister has spent plenty of holidays at the house, so she’s probably more used to it. I definitely feel like a guest, which I am, except I’ve spent a lot of time visiting family and friends.

This is also my first Christmas Eve on my own, totally on my own. I’m dog sitting for my kids who are at a water park in the Dells. I’m listening to Christmas music on Pandora. I picked up a six-pack sampler from Lakefront Brewery, and I ate my leftover hot beef sandwich from Bill’s Pizza. (We had dinner there last night.) I did some projects my kids probably wouldn’t let me touch if they were here, but they needed to be done. I’m watching the dog sleep. It’s nice. I’m not missing anyone. I know everyone is enjoying their time with family, and I’m enjoying my alone time. This year has taught me I enjoy my own company, and I’m OK alone. Sure, it’s nice to have people to do things with sometimes, and I love connecting with others, but I don’t need someone.

Maybe that’s why I bristled at my own references to “going home.” It implies that you need a home of your own or a home to go back to, and that’s not necessarily true.

Home is where I’m at now, wherever that may be.

How to Be a Better Writer Tip

Editing can help you distill your writing. Always, you should edit for inaccuracies — typos, grammar, punctuation. Editing also can be about paring down what doesn’t need to be there or what doesn’t move the story forward.

For this blog post, I edited out several tangents. When I write, I don’t always know where I’ll end up. Sometimes, it’s a circuitous route, and that’s OK. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn’t. There are times when I’ll cut out half of a column because I went someplace I didn’t want to go or didn’t need to go.

If you’re struggling to get through whatever you’re writing or to wrap it up, it might be a sign that you need to edit something out to make it sharper — more in focus.