Deciphering the Root
Shuyi Mao
Through personal experiences and observations of my family, I’ve wondered how the sense of belonging is changing.
Having lived in several cities, I found that I always adapted quickly, and my life seemed largely unchanged. This seamless adjustment has made my sense of belonging feel vague and detached. In contrast to my own experiences, my parents’ and grandparents’ relationships with their hometowns show generational differences in how belonging is perceived. They seem to have a stronger connection to their hometowns. Although they have moved from city to city for many years, their habits remain closely tied to their hometowns, making them distinct and deeply rooted in their regional identities.
The differences between generations got me thinking: As technology continues to blur regional distinctions and traditional anchors of identity, is the sense of belonging becoming fragmented, possibly leading to a crisis of belonging? Or has this generation developed its own unique, non-geographical sense of belonging? How have these changes impacted our understanding of belonging? By exploring these questions, I seek to redefine belonging in the modern world, offering new perspectives on fostering emotional connection and identity in both physical and digital spaces.