A perspective on Pride of Place, the sense of belonging, and making connections this summer

Defining and Discovering “home”

By Jenna Morton

A house. A certain person’s company. A community. Home isn’t a place; it’s a feeling. A feeling that you belong somewhere. And that sense of being part of something shapes everything about our lives. It grounds us. It gives us inspiration. It provides a safe space in which we can try new ideas and be confident someone will catch us if we fall. It’s the root of resiliency.

If these past few months have taught us anything, it’s how we each adapt to change. The inner strength required to feel the weight of world and bounce back. What makes one person, one community, one country seem to be able to do this easier than another? I think it all comes back to our sense of home.

We crave connection. Some of us crave social connection to other people. Some of us crave quiet connection to nature. Others crave connection through food or music or shared experiences. But we all seem to have that core desire to feel as though we belong to something larger than ourselves.

I believe that as a society, the onus is on all of us to help create those bonds for each other. These connections don’t just happen by chance. We need to create them. Through sharing our lives, our stories, our love of the places we call home.

When a child is connected to the people and to the places they see around them, they grow up resilient. They grow up confident. They grow up creative. They grow up engaged. These are the people who will be champions for themselves and for their community, wherever that physical address might be. And when you have a place filled with people who feel connected, who know they belong, that energy makes itself known. It calls out to others searching for that sense of connection. That’s part of the reason we’re seeing so many people move to the East Coast post-pandemic. Sure, there’s a financial component for some, but it’s about much more than a real estate deal. It’s people seeking home.

Maritimers have been sharing their love of this place for centuries now. When we are proud of the place we call home, it creates a sense of belonging that ripples through everything. It improves mental health. It sparks creativity. It fosters civic engagement & community volunteerism. It spurs innovation. It fuels economic growth. All of which increases population attraction & retention.

So, this summer, make it a point to try to make those connections – not just for you, but for the people you love, too. Read the stories of inspiring people from this place. See the natural beauty that attracts visitors from around the world. Hear the music that comes from local creators. Taste the food that is cultivated here. Keep searching for the connections that give us internal strength to weather any storm.

Jenna Morton is a New Brunswick-based, Cape Breton-raised writer who believes pride of place builds resilience, creativity, & economic growth. She created Pickle Planet Moncton to offer families ways to connect with their community & build that sense of belonging among children.