I Belong Here

While exploring the Eastern Sierra this weekend by myself, I remember experiencing a heartfelt moment while passing by the large sign for Alabama Hills and turning right onto Movie Road. The people I’ve met and bonded with, the natural landscape I fell in love with, provided an immediate sense of belonging. I could spend endless days here. Even dispersed camping, I felt I could sleep with the trunk open with my gear out the entire night. When I got up in the morning, I remember regretfully packing my gear and driving as slow as possible to the exit because I didn’t want to leave. 

The feeling of home away from home for me is often felt while building a connection with nature, meeting other like-minded individuals, or simply sitting behind the steering wheel on a road trip. This is in contrast to other places I’ve been where I felt like a fish out of water, a gleaming shopping mall or crowded and dense urban areas. Or perhaps I was with a group where I didn’t feel supported or respected, or a job where I didn’t feel like I was a team player, or simply never wanted to be somewhere in the first place.

When you feel you truly belong somewhere, you feel you have a place there. You are welcomed, you are valued, you are a fundamental part of that community or organization. You feel you are part of a greater whole, a society you contribute to and receive benefits from. I believe until one develops a sense of self, only then can they find true belonging.

I think we all go through life, whether through physical relocations, getting involved and affiliated with organizations, or participating in collective actions to try and find our place in this vast world. Our innate desires strive to be a part of something greater, a broader community with a greater mission and a collective vision than just the individual.

March 21, 2021 | Travel Stories