A Kids Book About: Belonging - Part 2: Read-Along Page

[MUSIC PLAYING] So now we get an opportunity to read the book, "A Kid's Book About Belonging." By mwah, Kevin Carol. Dedicated to the next generation of leaders, makers, doers, and dreamers, a.k.a. you. Hey, you. Yes, you, the one reading this book. Have you ever felt like you don't belong? Like you don't fit in or that other people don't get you? Well, this is a kid's book about belonging. I'm going to tell you what it means to belong and what it feels like when you don't. OK. So this is you. I know it's just a circle and probably doesn't look like you at all, just go with me here. You probably belong somewhere, right? A place, a group, or activity where you feel at home, right? Like a school, team, family, neighborhood, playground, band, or just planet Earth. But what does it mean to belong? Belonging is when you are part of something, when you feel included. It also means you feel safe, like when you're asleep in bed or when you're eating your favorite food. Belonging is quite simply cool, good, and wonderful. But sometimes it feels like you don't belong, like others don't want you around, like you want to be anywhere else, like you're not safe, like you can't be you. Have you ever felt like that? It's not cool, or good, or wonderful, right? It can feel lonely, painful, unsafe, scary, and sad. Sometimes, it looks like not getting picked to play on the team and sometimes it's getting left out. Other times, you're invited, but you don't feel comfortable. You might even think that you need to pretend you're somebody you're not, just to belong. Or that you need to wear a mask to fit in. That way, maybe you'll belong, right? Honestly, that will just make things worse. Trust me because belonging is connection, support, comfort, and safety. So what should you, yes, you, do when you feel like you don't belong? I'm glad you asked. Remember, that you must belong to yourself first. I know. I know. You're wondering, what in the world does that mean? It means you must love yourself, accept yourself, like yourself, appreciate self, care for yourself, and support yourself because belonging starts with you. When you belong to yourself, just as you are with no faking or pretending, you'll always belong no matter where you are. It makes it OK when you don't fit in, because you know that you don't have to. And when you do fit, you know it's because you're being you. So first, belong to yourself. And second, find those people, places, and groups that you can belong to just by being you. That's it. The end. Bam.