Five Minute Friday: Belong

Once again, joining in with the group over at Lisa-Jo Baker's blog for Five Minute Friday. Five minutes of unedited writing on a given word, and then we share it. Today's word is "belong."

 

Sitting at the edge of the room. Watching the groups of people greet each other with joy. Listening to the buzz of conversation.

She didn't really feel like she belonged here. She felt like she was on the outside looking in.

All she wanted was to belong. To find one friend - one person who would greet her with joy. Was that really too much to ask?


She got in her car to drive to another social event. Another event where she knew she would just be sitting on the edge of the group. She just hoped she would be close enough to a group of people to look like she belonged.

She never really felt like she belonged in a group of people. She always felt like she was just on the outside looking in, when all she wanted was to belong. Was that too much to ask?


She walked into the room. Expecting much of the same as every time - to hang out at the edges of the group. Just hoping she wouldn't look like she was totally alone.

But, this time was different. Someone welcomed her. Someone started a conversation and really wanted to get to know her.

She didn't spend the evening alone. Or trying to look like she fit in.

Tonight she really did fit in. She felt like she belonged. It was a night she wouldn't forget.


As she drove home that night she decided that the next time she went to a social event she would look for those who had been like she was. She would look for those on the edges just hoping to belong. And she would make them feel like they belonged. She knew the power of one conversation - of one person caring. And she was going to pass that on to others.