A sense of Northern Belonging

A Sense of Northern Belonging

John Paul Derryberry

Invite me to the Spotted Cat in New Orleans. I'll do my best to find a way to get there and soak up the live music scene on Frenchmen St. Tell me you are headed to The Olde Pink House in Savannah, Georgia. I'll tag along for one of the best meals in the country. Mention Nashville, and I get the hankering to waste the day enjoying Robert's Western World. There are many places in this vast world where I have enjoyed their vibe and longingly want to get back there. There are places I have never been that I will want to one day visit; Machu Picchu and the Inca trail top that list currently.

Yet, something about the North woods of Minnesota moves me in a way that I can't put into words. I have never regretted a moment by the big lake of Superior, hiking in the woods, snowshoeing on the trails, canoeing on its rivers, or running from its butterflies-sized mosquitoes. Heck I even had a great time running Grandma’s marathon even though it down poured for my first 18 miles. I always look at my wife as we pack up our bags after a week or long weekend in the area and ask, why are we leaving? From the moment my foot hit the superior hiking trail, I felt I had found a place I jive with wholeheartedly. I feel like I belong there when I'm there with people I love.

And what a feeling belonging is! I often think we are at our best when we find that place and the people who make us feel like we are right where we are supposed to be. On the other hand, I think we struggle the most when we find ourselves in a place where we look around and say, how did I end up in a place I don't belong? Whether it's the people or the area, we suddenly feel lost, out of place, out of touch, and the worst parts of our personalities take over. The crazy part is we put a ton of effort into attempting to pick the best people and path forward, yet still find ourselves lost. We rarely find ourselves feeling out of place from a lack of effort.

We should go easier on ourselves and others who have suddenly realized, I'm not where I belong. But, of course, there is a litany of reasons to go easier on ourselves. Still, for this story, it's because, at some point in your life, you ended up somewhere you didn't belong. Remember how you felt, how awkward you were, and your doubt about yourself. All because you did the human thing of taking a couple of wrong turns. If you find another person in that position, do your best to help them find a path to where they belong.

Because after all my travels and work with so many people who were lost, I have found a universal truth. We all belong somewhere with a group of people who will bring out the best version of ourselves. Mine is between the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin and Grand Marias, Minnesota. A place I didn't visit until I was in my 30s. A place that I retreat to with people I love to share with them what about that area that makes me feel like the best version of me. And when you find the place that makes you feel like you have arrived, share it with people you love. It might not be the place for them, but you will help them on their journey to find the place they belong. For me, it's time to throw another log on the fire outside a cabin in Northern Minnesota and soak up my place. Soon I'll ask my wife, why are we leaving this place? Maybe one day I'll get lucky, and I won't have to.