Alfred Nobel was a Swedish businessman and inventor who founded the Nobel Prizes and invented dynamite in the 19th century. Even though he was well-known for these accomplishments, he had ideas that went beyond advancements in science. Nobel frequently discussed the idea that a person's sense of belonging and dedication to a place or activity define their home more so than any physical boundaries.

In this sense, think of home as a lighthouse that shines wherever the person who tends to it happens to be, in addition to shining from its fixed location on a cliff. Nobel thought that if people are dedicated and involved with their environment, they can feel at home anywhere, much like a sailor can find solace in knowing that light is always there to guide them, whether they are on land or at sea.

For Nobel, his "home" was wherever he was carrying out experiments, conducting business, or contemplating the world, rather than being restricted to a particular residence or community. According to this perspective, one's professional endeavors can also be the places where they feel most content and at home, reflecting a contemporary understanding of work-life balance.

This view of home questions conventional wisdom by arguing that our emotional ties to places—which are derived from our hobbies, obligations, and passions—rather than geographical boundaries, define our sense of belonging. Nobel's idea thus inspires us to discover purpose and a sense of belonging in the different roles we play throughout our lives, no matter where they lead.