Not that long ago, my counselor challenged me to write down my tribes. I’d spent some time in a session talking about the loneliness that sometimes comes with being different. It’s not always sad or distressful. Nevertheless, if there is something that sets you apart, opportunities to be with similar people may be infrequent.
Case in point: As proud as I am of my musical tastes, such fandom can feel like a solitary pursuit. One reason I enjoy live music is that I get to be among fans. If you’re seeing Willie Nelson, Pearl Jam, John Legend, or other popular acts, your peers seem to be everywhere.
But if you’re seeing a lesser-known act live, the camaraderie of seeing others sing along to songs you feel like only you know pays joy dividends. You and the other fans know it, nodding in recognition to each other like members of some secret club.
It wasn’t exactly a pity party that day in session, but when the counselor pushed me to do the work of looking objectively at who my tribes really are, it was the right move.
I was not as alone as I felt in that moment.
And being an estranged parent also comes with a particular isolation for many of us. Who do you talk to? Who understands?
This is not to say that support cannot be available via someone who has not experienced estrangement. However, when a facet of one’s distress is the feeling of abandonment, connecting with peers who understand because they’ve gone through it can be invaluable.
And that is why we started PLACE. This tribe welcomes you.
