To belong did not mean ownership. You were not someone's property. The be syllable was about existence: to be yourself and to be in a special place that no one else could occupy within your family except you. The long part was about the heart, a place in the heart where a family met and lived together. They didn't just put up with each other. They longed for each other. To belong was not a state of mind but a state of heart.
Belonging is a concept that transcends mere ownership or possession. It is fundamentally about existence and identity within a family unit. Each individual holds a unique and irreplaceable place that no one else can fill, signifying the essence of being oneself in a shared environment. This idea highlights that belonging is not about being someone's property, but about participating in a familial bond that is deeply personal and meaningful.
Furthermore, true belonging involves emotional connections that go beyond tolerance. It signifies a yearning and an authentic connection among family members, where love and affection flourish. Rather than being simply a mental state, belonging is described as a heartfelt experience, where a family genuinely longs for each other. In essence, it's about creating a shared space in the heart that nurtures relationships and fosters genuine love and kinship.
