Introduction
Staying at home with one’s family is an easier and more preferable choice to make than going anywhere, but people may not realise that living without family support may help them develop a stronger character. It is evident that the last option is tougher but better for one’s personal growth.
Life at home and life away
Living far from home may be inconvenient and troubling owing to the numerous adjustments one should make. If a person lives in a facility, such as a hostel, that hosts a range of residents, he or she may have to share the kitchen or pool with several other people. Sometimes, it may not be possible to do exactly what a person wants because one must accommodate to the needs of many other individuals (Flynn 56).
On the other hand, if an individual lives at home, one may not have to make many adjustments because there are few individuals to consider. Furthermore, as people live with the same family members throughout their life, they adjust to their habits and particular way of life
When one lives away from home, one must become highly organised. This is necessary in order to manage one’s obligations. Relocating away from home requires one to create a new routine that will facilitate one’s transition. A person may have to sort out his or her things a day before a big event in order to avoid confusion at some particular moment. Conversely, an individual may not be highly organised at home and still get away with it. The person has the advantage of having family around; consequently, a mother or sister may help in organising something (Klinenberg 15).
Living away from home requires one to become diligent. A person living alone will need to perform all the house duties alone, cleaning, cooking, and shopping. As a result, there is no room for laziness. In contrast, a person living with family may not have as many household chores or personal responsibilities as the person who is living alone. This is because most of the duties are assigned to different family members. In fact, one can get away with laziness in the family setting because others will clean or cook on their behalf (Flynn 67).
Perhaps, one of the most attractive components of living away from home is that it teaches a person to become independent. An individual must take charge of his or her living expenses and income (Klinenberg 92). Furthermore, a person must plan for his or her healthcare services as well as his or her diet.
An individual living alone needs to take care of his social activities, and his life, because there is no one else to do it for him/her. On the other hand, if a person lives at home, one tends to rely on others for certain things. For instance, if the individual lives with his or her parents, then they may be responsible for the provision of all basic needs. Alternatively, if one lives with one’s spouse, then the partner may make the family budget on his or her behalf.
Living away from home may foster tolerance if the current location is far from home. Going to a different country or town may expose a person to the situations where he/she will deal with the people of various religions, morals, social values, political values, political opinions, and cultural backgrounds. This causes the individual to learn how to tolerate other people with different viewpoints. Sometimes, a roommate can challenge a person about a certain issue, and this may cause an individual to think about it in a different light. Living at home with one’s family may not expose one to diverse communities as a person interacts with the same people continuously (Flynn 81).
Staying at home with one’s family gives one a strong sense of identity and belonging. Family members give support when one faces difficulties, thus lessening his/her life challenges. It is difficult to feel lonely at home because a person can spend his time with the other family members. Conversely, it is difficult to cultivate a sense of identity when living away from home, especially when no strong workplace or school culture exists in the new location.
Feelings of isolation or loneliness can creep in, and this may cause emotional distress. When left unchecked, the situation can cause one to engage in unwanted activities. For instance, a person may become a television addict or start an unhealthy habit. Alternatively, one may become depressed.
If a person has a wife and children, then living away from home can sometimes provide one with a sense of freedom. This is especially true when the concerned children are young and troublesome. Some may perceive it as selfish, but living away from home can offer a much-needed break from the stresses of taking care of a family (Klinenberg 101). When a person lives at home with one’s family, one must always take into account the needs of other family members. This may minimise one’s options with regard to time and resources.
Conclusion
The analysis above has shown that living away from home may help one become strong, organised, free, diligent, independent, inconvenienced and culturally tolerant. Staying with one’s family gives one a sense of belonging and constant support but limits one’s freedom.
It does not teach one to be independent or how to deal with cultural differences. Further, one may become lazy and ignorant how to live in harmony with other people who are not one’s family members. In essence, living away from home fosters maturity and thus is a better option.
Works Cited
Flynn, Elizabeth. Coping with living alone. London: Catholic Truth Society, 2001. Print.
Klinenberg, Eric. Going solo: The extraordinary rise and surprising appeal of going alone. NY: The Penguin press, 2012. Print.