Day 16 (November 27, 2016): You Belong.

"You belong." Two little words that have such amazing power over us. We all need to feel like we're part of something bigger; none of us prefer to be islands unto ourselves. Yet there are moments when membership comes at a cost; nowadays, being in the "wrong" group invites everything from sideways glances to hate crimes. Ultimately, belonging can prove polarizing, and we find that we morph into those lonely little islands.

Yet it doesn't have to be that way. For example, a friend of mine recently shared the following image via social media. Perhaps you've already seen it:

Check out http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/man-holding-you-belong-sign-outside-irving-mosque-texas-racism-a7442966.html for further 411 on the man holding the sign. 

I don't know this Texan personally, but he has nonetheless become one of my personal heroes. What he accomplished with his signage is absolutely brilliant . . . he didn't bridge a gap; he used kindness to demonstrate that there's no gap to begin with. In actuality, the gap is only in our heads and, sadly, sometimes in our hearts. 

We are all members of one America. That beautiful truth existed before November 8, didn't evaporate on November 8, and will inevitably survive countless future November 8's. We are only a nation divided if we allow ourselves to be; we only lack a sense of belonging if we rob others of the same.

America is a country built on diversity and compassion and, yes, KINDNESS. It's a country that belongs to the man in the picture and so many men, women, and children like him. Whoever understands and respects that will always belong here.