“Belonging is not something we negotiate with the external world.
It’s something we carry in our hearts.”You only are free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.”
(Maya Angelou)
At 20 years old,
One of the best things I ever did – just having already done Virginia to Florida by myself. Then Florida to Arizona with a friend…
was to take another solo road trip for several weeks through parts of Arizona and New Mexico. Partly because I wasn’t sure where I wanted to land
(& partly because I was running to stand still)
One day I saw an ad in the local paper which read:
“Artist wanted as live-in caretaker for 140 acre ranch in the Gila Wilderness.”
I knew nothing about the Gila (or the southwest environment)
Or even about taking care of a property that size.
But I went down there to check it out and ended up staying.
I was alone there on that incredible, ancient, sacred, “spirited” land most of the time.
(Pre internet & cell phones) the only way to communicate with the outside world was either through a letter or by Hiking or driving out 3 miles through 6 river crossings to the closest pay phone.
It was amazing, wonderful, sometimes scary and often lonely
But it caused me to trust myself, to face my shit and really {start to} understand my truth.
And
Though I am an independent, “loner” by nature
that experience taught me how to really stand alone…
content, confident, at ease with myself and with my loneliness. ..
Which taught me how to BELONG to myself.
And that was one of the most valuable gifts in my life.
~ Jill ♡
“Belonging is not something we negotiate with the external world.
It’s something we carry in our hearts.”
(Brene Brown)
