There was a man who decided to find the one place in the world where he "knew" he belonged. That place that must exist, for him, where he would feel most safe, secure and at peace. So he set out fully prepared to settle in a new land, wherever it was.

At first his spirits were high for he was sure he was going to find his special place and begin a new life. However, the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months. After many months had passed, his excitement had diminished but he was sure he would soon find that special place. The man continued on his journey, finding many wonderful places and people along the way, but none attracted him in the way his special place surely would. Admittedly he had seen beauty and splendor like never before and met people kind and generous. He had even seen things he only heard of or read in books, which he was very glad to experience, but still, he never felt as if any of these places were his "special place".

Then one day, after thinking it may not happen, he turned a bend in the road and low and behold, there in front of him was a valley with rolling hills and green grass. The bluest of skies and a sun that shined bright and warm. A breeze came across his face as if calling him home and then like an epiphany, he realized something. He was home.

He had traveled for so long and for so many miles, he had returned to the place he left. But why was it so different. Something surely must have changed since he left. And after spending some quiet time alone, as he sat looking over the land, he realized what it was. There had been a change. What changed was the way he looked at all that was around him. He remembered how once, long ago, this was how he saw this land, which was why he settled there. This place called to him and he made it his "special place" way back then. The man then learned the meaning to something he had heard as a child but never understood.... "The grass is always greener in your own back yard". There is no need to look elsewhere for that "special place" for it truly lies within. What matters is not what is around you but within you.

"And the end of all our searching shall be to return to the place where we started and know it for the first time."
- T.S. Eliot