September 24, 2020,
Family, Fundamental Human Needs, Life, Love, Relationship 
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The fulfillment of this need offers you peace of mind in the knowledge that you are not alone and that the struggle of life is not yours alone to bear. You are one of many. You are a member of your immediate family, your extended family, your community, and all the nations of the world.
Every one of you, from the day your parents first dropped you off at child care or preschool to the day you became an adult and left home to make a life of your own, are learning to fit into a social group and do so even when it is uncomfortable. The reason for this is simply that you have a need to love and belong.
Therefore, for you as an adult, your love and belonging needs have to do with all the things that bring other people into your life, together with the shared enjoyment of that. This can be found either in your relationship with your partner and the things you do together, with your families and friends, or even with people you don’t know but pass on the street.
While time with their children fulfills some of Beth’s and Roger’s love and belonging needs, it is not the only way they get these needs met.
The children have come over to their parents’ house to celebrate one of their birthdays and have now returned to their own homes. It is late in the afternoon. The house has been tidied up and there is nothing pressing until dinnertime. Roger might say to Beth, “I feel hungry. Let’s go to the pancake restaurant and order ourselves something really delicious.” Beth accepts the invitation, and they decide to combine it with a walk, as well.
They greet people along the way, some they know and some they don’t. They get to the pancake restaurant, take their time pondering the menu before choosing, and enjoy their pancakes and the time they have together.
They return home feeling satisfied and revitalized, as so many of their needs have been met in one small and unplanned outing.
To the wonder of you,
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