The hunger to belong is not merely a desire to be attached to something. It is rather sensing that great transformation and discovery become possible when belonging is sheltered and true.

It is a universal truth that everyone, everywhere has a need to feel belonging. Somewhere that they feel safe and wanted. Somewhere they can run to and find comfort and acceptance for who they really are. This need drives some to extremes, none of which end with the coveted "happily ever after." To belong somewhere is to be somebody.
In the words of Dean Martin, "You're nobody 'till somebody loves you."
I feel like nobody right now.
I know I have a loving family, but they are many thousands of miles away right now. I'm in a quiet place at school surrounded by dozens of people, and I still feel thousands of miles away. Even my best friend is feeling distant these days.
I don't know. I've felt like this often. Making observances about other people's lives unfortunately leads me to realize how much of a full life I'm missing out on. It's not fair. I feel like I don't even have a chance.
I'm definitely not going to say I'm the only one who feels this way or that this feeling is so much worse than everyone else who feels the same way. It's just I get a little frustrated sometimes.
Sitting at a dinner table feeling completely out of place. Walking places and not seeing even one kind, familiar face. Going a whole day only saying an average of two sentences. It's like living in the Twilight Zone. I know...this is the episode where someone gets dropped off on a distant planet just like this one, but he knows no one and no one knows him. That must be it...
It's strange. I'm in a place surrounded by people who share the same interests, the same faith, the same living quarters, the same buildings, the same eating places, the same everything. Yet, I still feel like there's no one I can relate to right now. Like a square in the midst of a bunch of circles. The black dot on a white board. That one neon letter that's always blown out on a store sign. People look at it, notice it's different, then move on and forget it.
Small talk is a great way to get to know someone, but it's also the best way to make someone feel out of place. If you ever see someone who looks a little uncomfortable, don't you dare ask them "how they are" or "how was your day." You will always, ALWAYS get the answers "good" and "fine." Ask them something off the wall. Just whatever comes to mind. Favorite color, vacation memories, favorite subject to study, something other than the mundane.
Because the start of feeling like you belong somewhere begins with that feeling when someone shows natural interest in what you think/believe/feel, etc.
The beginning of belonging is feeling special.