During her twelve years of nursing the dying, Bronnie Ware discovered their greatest regret: 'I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me'. In her book, the "Top Five Regrets of the Dying", she conveys the pain of those who had suppressed their true selves to conform and fit it. They now recognised the price - a mediocre life in which they had experienced themselves as much less than they believed themselves to be. They had fitted in, but not necessarily discovered where and with whom they belonged. Wanting to belong is right at the core of us. It's in our cellular memory. At least from our time as cave dwellers we have linked safety and security with being part of a group inside the cave, instead of outside as a potential meal for wild animals. If we didn't have such a deep and genuine need to belong in some way, somewhere, with someone, it wouldn't be so disquieting to feel and know when we don't.
