Belonging is a feeling that is multifaceted, wrought with emotion, and neither universal nor linear. The privileges and disadvantages that come with our shared histories, and the state of the world, add to its complexity. Sociocultural norms and political tension surrounding physical appearance and identity, religion and faith, race and ethnicity, class, education, and wealth all contribute to how much we feel like we belong.

While writing this piece, I found myself thinking about living between two worlds, and what made me feel like I truly belonged in each one of them. While understanding that I am immensely blessed to live this life, I also realised that for me, belonging was not necessarily associated with a place or objects, but the people and experiences that shaped me at that point in time.

I poured the following into this piece: my family and their unwavering support in my dream to study music. My husband brewing coffee and watering the plants. Prayers whispered during an evening walk. Seeing the coast of Sri Lanka after a long flight and hugging my family at the airport. An early morning bike ride through Boston. The aroma of spices being tempered for a curry. The loss of a beloved pet. Hanging out with my best friends. The first sip of Sri Lankan tea. Love, joy, adventure, uncertainty, and sadness — all encapsulated within an overwhelming feeling of hope and possibility.

The more I reflected, themes became clearer and notes were written. Faces came into focus very often, and I realised that a large part of what contributes to the feeling of belonging is community. An embrace by people who may not have been your own, but have come to be those you celebrate, grieve, and live with.

Maybe belonging transcends physicality. Maybe we long for it so much because it is somehow spiritually linked to our sense of purpose in the world. It is the freedom to be and the space to grow — a privilege that many do not have and yearn for deeply today.

Motherlands is an ode to all the caregivers who have raised, comforted, and encouraged me against all odds. A word that is usually singular, placed in the plural to indicate that life is split between two worlds, at all times. Belonging implies that home can also be multiple communities across distance and time.

I hope it invites you to think about your own journey of belonging, and what we can be when we are at our best, together.