Love is saying yes to belonging.
-David Steindl-Rast (b.1926)
It’s just that it’s impossible to be a broken or whole person. You can only be a person. You can only exist, you can only belong to yourself, and you can only be responsible for your own happiness or belonging or whatever. That broken-part-piece-whole thing is just a trick of the mortal mind.
–Jackson Pearce (b. 1984)
Language, identity, place, home: these are all of a piece – just different elements of belonging and not-belonging.
–Jhumpa Lahiri (b. 1967)
Why do we even bother? Why do we make ourselves so open to such easy damage? Is it all loneliness? Is it all fear? Or is it just to experience those narcotic moments of belonging with someone else?
–David Levithan (b. 1972)
Actually everybody has a story, a fairy tale in their heart that they adhere to.
–Phoebe Stone
That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.
–F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 – 1940)
Tell me with whom you associate, and I will tell you who you are.
–Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 – 1832)
Being engaged in some way for the good of the community, whatever that community, is a factor in a meaningful life. We long to belong, and belonging and caring anchors our sense of place in the universe.
–Patricia Churchland (b. 1943)
You cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it.
–Grace Lee Boggs (1915 – 2015)
Giving connects two people, the giver and the receiver, and this connection gives birth to a new sense of belonging.
–Deepak Chopra (b. 1946)
The Skeptic's Kaddish 🇮🇱 
People are communal creatures, Albert Camus notwithstanding. I have always admired Deepak Chopra. And yes, sometimes the sense of belonging is so intense as to be narcotic.
How are you, David? Getting ready for Chanukkah?
Much love,
D
Yep, all is well with us 😍
Спасибо ❣️
Всегда пожалуйста! 😻
It would be nice if the fact that humans really are basically the same kept us from dividing ourselves into us and them. But, unfortunately, it does not. (K)
Animals do that too…
I wonder if plants do as well.
Have a couple of new blogs up David for your perusal, whenever you get the chance?! No pressure. Thanks very much! 🙏😁❤️
Will check them out soon ❤
Much obliged sir, appreciate you have other commitments. 🙏😊
“Why do we even bother? Why do we make ourselves so open to such easy damage? Is it all loneliness? Is it all fear? Or is it just to experience those narcotic moments of belonging with someone else?”
–David Levithan (b. 1972)
This! 👆👆 It’s just a perfect description for belonging. 😁 How addictive it can be?!
❤ Ken ❤ – yep – I so agree.
Belongedness is what you make yourself and cannot be bestowed.
❤ Andrew ❤ – indeed.
narcotic moments of belonging with someone else… Deep. Thank you for sharing
❤ Sangeetha ❤
P.S. did I miss an email from you, or have you been busy?
Have just sent 🙂
😀 responded 😀
😀❤️
A wonderful collection. Community is great
❤ Lauren ❤ – I agree!
[…] Those narcotic moments of belonging… — The skeptic’s kaddish […]
I’ve got to go with Stone and Fitzgerald on this one! Have a pleasant weekend!
❤ ❤ Phil ❤ ❤