In life, a sense of belonging is crucial. That feeling can come from many different things including people, jobs, landmarks or personal spaces. It is hard to say what exactly makes us feel like we belong somewhere, but when our sense of belonging is threatened we get very defensive.
I grew up in Lynden, Washington a little town about 5 minutes south of the Canadian border. In the thirteen years I lived in Lynden very little changed. At thirteen I could go to the same ice cream shop I went to when I was three and get the same bubble gum ice-cream. When I was in seventh grade my family moved into Bellingham, but we frequently visited Lynden for sporting and family events. In the five years between when I moved to Bellingham and graduated high school, Lynden changed so much. It was very unsettling for me; this place that represented my childhood was transforming into something I didn't recognize.
I grew up in Lynden, Washington a little town about 5 minutes south of the Canadian border. In the thirteen years I lived in Lynden very little changed. At thirteen I could go to the same ice cream shop I went to when I was three and get the same bubble gum ice-cream. When I was in seventh grade my family moved into Bellingham, but we frequently visited Lynden for sporting and family events. In the five years between when I moved to Bellingham and graduated high school, Lynden changed so much. It was very unsettling for me; this place that represented my childhood was transforming into something I didn't recognize.