“Belongingness is the human need to feel accepted in a group, whether that’s family, friends, or co-workers. Many people have a natural desire to belong and to be part of something bigger than themselves. This goes beyond just knowing someone; belonging is a deep feeling rooted in human nature.”
Since we all supposedly crave belongingness, it seems we’ve all experienced those moments of feeling like a sponge out of water. My first day of college? Let’s just say it was a real revelation. Here I was at 23, walking into a class dominated by fresh-faced high school grads who just finished celebrating their senior prom. Seriously? Five years felt like an eternity? It was as if I had wandered into a high school class of self-proclaimed know-it-alls, completely carefree and oblivious. That was my eye-opener to the supposed mental gaps that come with age—while I was wrestling with adult problems, they were busy figuring out how to color inside the lines.
Did I try to fit in? No. I had no desire to. I accepted it for what it was, embracing the uniqueness of my experience. I was comfortable with the discomfort, finding solace in the very things that made me feel like an outsider. That opportunity of feeling out of place allowed me to grow, as each awkward moment and every instance of being different became a lesson in resilience and self-acceptance, teaching me to navigate a world that often values conformity over individuality. Through this journey, I discovered the power of authenticity and the beauty of being true to myself, which ultimately paved the way for deeper connections with others who also felt like misfits in their own right.
F 
Leave a comment