Where Do You Belong?

Belonging — the feeling of being comfortable and happy in a particular situation or with a particular group of people, and being treated as a full member of the group. Source: Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.

Have you ever thought about where you truly belong? Where is your happy place? Who are your people?

Can you see yourself in this place with those people? What does it feel like when you belong?

It feels good, right?

Belonging is something we all struggle with from time to time, whether it’s to fit into a specific high school crowd, a sports team, a church or place of work. We all want to fit in with the right crowd and with those who will nurture and energise us.

We want to be seen and respected for who we are.

Belonging is something I struggled with when I was growing up and sometimes I still question my life choices. Did I choose the right career? Did I settle in the safest place for my growing family? Can I do more to help people?

I think we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t keep wondering… What if?

Have you ever felt that you were different from those around you?

I often have the feeling that people don’t really connect that well anymore. Misunderstandings and prejudice arise far too often, where a conversation may have been able to fix a problem before it escalated.

I wonder why we don’t make an effort to learn more about each other before we judge. Why are we so quick to dismiss people who might turn out to be the people we belong with.

Over the years, I’ve gathered snippets of what belonging means. Belonging is when you feel safe in a group of people. Where you can be yourself without having to pretend to be someone else. We all wear different masks depending on who and where you are but the people you belong with — they see the true you.

It could be your family if you are lucky enough to have them. It could be a group of friends that have stayed together since middle school. It might be a group from your old football team that stayed together over the years.

When you trust and know that a person has your back, no matter what. A person who cares about you — a friend that will not betray you when the going gets tough.

That’s belonging.

Belonging should never feel forced or a chore. If you have to try hard to fit in, then that place, or those people are not your people. The best thing you can do in that situation is leave.

Life is too short to feel unwanted and invisible. Find where you belong and when you do, you will know what I mean.

My name is Lizzy. I’m a trauma survivor, a wife, a mom, a teacher, and an author.

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For more about me: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com

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