Where Do You Belong?

Where Do You Belong?

We often seek belonging by matching like with like. In a new group setting, our adaptive instincts seek “likes” (Is she like me? Do I have something in common with him?) instead of differences. Older boys used to heckle me when I was 6, 9, even 12 because I had long blond hair. I fought for my hair. Small-framed me, beat up boys bigger than me. Yep, my little fist on a bigger boy’s face. I was a peaceful kid until I wasn’t. I kept my hair long even if it meant I didn’t instantly belong.