50+ Check-In December 27-30, 2021
Happy Monday to everyone in the 50+ community. I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and feel refreshed for a new week 😊
We all have an instinctive need to belong, it gives us a sense of purpose and meaning. Without a sense of belonging, it’s easy to feel lost and alone. One way to build a sense of belonging is to work on becoming more open minded and on acceptance of others. The less we judge our surroundings and the more we practice tolerance the less we feel like an outsider.
When in your life did you experience the most belonging? What made you feel you belonged?
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@amiablePeace77
When i answer my calling.I felt like i belong. Feels so comfortable.
@exquisitePeace7976
Doing what you feel you're born to do is a wonderful life, I hope you're still answering your calling.
How do I know my calling? I'm 54 and I'm not sure I've ever had one, or at least recognized it.
Good question
@scaryperry1
What are you particularly passionate about, what are your dreams?
I'm not quite sure I have any dreams, and I don't think that's a good thing. And sadly, that's not an exaggeration. For years my responsibilities as a husband and a father forced me to defer my own needs and desires for the needs and desires of others. The consequences of that decision have now come to roost. Any dreams I may have once had have faded into nothing so that I literally can't remember what they were or even if there were any at all. It seems that dreaming is like a muscle, if you don't use it, it atrophies.
I don’t belong anywhere.
@Iamwhoiamwhoami
Hugs (if taken). I hope that if you keep coming here you will get a sense of belonging to the 7cups family one day. We embrace you as your are.
I understand where this person is coming from though. Some people, myself included, cannot find a sense of belonging in the digital universe. Here we can't hear another's voice, see each other's facial expressions or feel the touch of someone's hand on our shoulder. Ultimately we can't be completely sure that anyone else is even real.
@scaryperry1
Hearing someone's voice or feeling their touch can be very comforting and not be replaced by anything in my view but being listened to like here on 7cups can be very comforting too and behind the screens are real people, not bots 😊
When in your life did you experience the most belonging? What made you feel you belonged?
When I was in college, I felt I belonged. Not the first semester, when I really felt out of place, but after I'd been there awhile. I got to know or at least recognize many of the other people in my major (cinema), as we saw each other in various classes, semester after semester.
I kind of feel like I belong at the place where I go for my peer-to-peer support group sessions. I see some of the same people there all of the time, the regulars, as well as the people who work there.
@WharfRat
I think the first semester is difficult for most students, everything is just so new, nice that you felt belonging after a while. Having a peer-support-group sounds very helpful!
@amiablePeace77, unfortunately, I have never, in my life, felt I belonged.
@purpleTree4652
So sorry to hear that all your life you never felt that you belong to a place. I hope that you will grow a feeling of belonging to 7cups with time and feel part of the family, hugs (if okay).
I am cool being alone the problem is existential loneliness. The world and sanity’s getting more anxiety and stress provoking. Saldly when the music ends all that’s left is us……..
@pgreen6840
It's not always easy to find inner peace in the midst of outer chaos. Mindfulness helps me to take care of my body and mind in these harder times. I can't control the outside but I can control how I respond to it.
Do you walk the talk ?
@amiablePeace77. I was very fortunate to meet my life partner which helps me to feel that I belong. I attended some adult classes that I made friends and felt that I belonged also.
@adventurousBranch3786
Having such support at home is a true blessing branch, nice you could make friends with people from adult classes.
@amiablePeace77
When in your life did you experience the most belonging? What made you feel you belonged?
Joining 7cups helped make reaching out to people easier. I had so many ways to participate with people that belonging came easily to me.
@soulsings
Nice that belonging feels easily to you now.
@amiablePeace77
Hi Ami:
I have been away for a while due to health issues.
I’ve gone through most of my life feeling like I don’t belong. The only place I felt okay was with my parents. They are both gone and I no longer feel like I belong anywhere.
@UberRuminator
I'm really sorry to hear that you've never felt to belong anywhere, it's hard when we feel there is not acceptance. You are appreciated here and I hope it will give you a sense of belonging one day.
Glad you're back, hope you're better now ❤️
@amiablePeace77
I don't consider myself to be judgemental but I have truly never felt totally accepted anywhere. Yet I keep my feelings inside and act as comfortable as possible. It kind of feels like people tolerate me yet do not accept me for who I am.
I have found more acceptance here than any other place.
@scarletPear1945
I'm glad you found acceptance here scarlet. ❤️
