Where do you belong? Where does one belong? To what belong? Belong to what? How do you belong? How do you know where you belong to belong to?
To belong ... strange word ... powerful word ...
At least for me. It has an underlaying meaning. A very intense one. It's defined by the country you grow up in. It's defined by the language you grow up with. It's defined by tradition, culture and history.
(to) belong – gehören, zugeordnet werden, kommen. The translation into my german mother tongue. The word feels different for me in english and in german. It has power and meaning in english thats not reflected, mend and understood in the german letters. 'This book belongs to her' 'This essay belongs to this political theory' – german translations with meaning and interpretations. But to belong means more. Much more. It just doesn't suit with those three translations.
(to) belong – is something big. It has a deeper sense. It touches the heart. Grows roots from there to a place, a person, a life. 'They belong to the land. The land doesn't belong to them'. It's not about ownership – that though pattern is included in all german translations by the way. But it's an interdependence that is reflected in the word. Not just a one sided relationship kind of hierarchisch.
(to) belong – is about connectedness. Appreciation. It's a feeling. A sensing. A being. Like those Ethiopian guys speed walking backwards up the steep rocky mountains. Like they are appropriately placed where they are, how they are, like they are. One with the land. Pulsating and vibrating together with nature. That's the full meaning of belonging. Fare away from ownership, property and power.
(to) belong – is a land. A place. A country. A person. A dream. An idea. A knowing. A sensing. Awaking. Going.
(to) belong – It's heartbeat