As I was growing up, I did not feel a sense of belonging anywhere. I was bullied at school for my sometimes odd and disruptive behavior. I was purposefully seeking the attention I
craved but did not always get at home. For people who have experienced the mental
illness of one or both parents, finding where they have a sense of belonging is a daunting task.
I had just a few friends in elementary school. I was lonely, and escaped with my neighborhood friends into the woods whenever I could. I talked to who I imagined was God in the woods; I felt safer there than anywhere else. I belonged among the trees, deer, birds, and water. Exploring the woods with my friends behind my house gave me a sense of presence I could not find anywhere else. When Ronald Reagan Pkwy was built, they took away most of my childhood woods. However, there are remnants of that same forest on the walking trail at Bethesda Park. Now I get to enjoy that remaining forest with friends I have met at UUCG and beyond.
I like being able to share my childhood woods with friends I have made as an adult. I feel accepted by the friends I share my childhood woods with. It feels like I’ve come full circle. For me, that is building belonging.
~Jen Garrison
