January 2026: Belonging
Join us.
Belonging rarely announces itself.
It shows up sideways ~
in the moment someone says your name slowly,
in a room where you don’t have to perform at all,
in the unspoken relief of not explaining yourself all the way.
Most of us learned belonging early, before we had language for it.
A kitchen table.
A bus stop.
A shared look that said me too.
And just as early, many of us learned its absence.
We learned to scan rooms, and shape-shift.
We stood close enough to be included, but not so close that we might be seen.
This first prompt of Art of Being Human in 2026 begins here.
Here are a few invitations. You could follow one, or invent your own.
Where in your life do you belong without effort -- and where do you still work for it?
How has your definition of belonging changed over time?
When and where have you known you belonged -- and why?
Create a small collage titled Where I Belong Right Now.
Illustrate a place, person, or moment where you felt most yourself.
Design a simple symbol for belonging; something you could recognize anywhere.
Record a short video (30–90 seconds) answering: What does belonging feel like?
Write a sign or phrase you wish had been visible in a moment you felt alone.
Compose a playlist or a song, a video or a highlight reel, that sounds like belonging and share one line about why.
A week from now, Jane and Sam will add theirs.
A week after that (and every month thereafter), a guest co-creator will share theirs -- in a rotating range of creative mediums.
And then, in the final week of each month, Jane and Sam will offer a final reflection, and elevate some of your contributions.
Thanks for being with us. We look forward to seeing what you have to offer.
Belonging rarely happens all at once.
It happens when we pause long enough to gather, to notice one another, and to share what it means to be human.
On Friday, January 30th at 1pm, we’re opening a small circle online: our first Art of Being Human Zoom. Think of it as a gentle artist opening, a once-upon-a-time moment, where presence matters more than polish and showing up is enough.
RSVP to join January 30th, 1pm, here.
This month’s theme is belonging. We’d love for you to hold the date and join us in that spirit: to listen, to reflect, and to be part of a shared moment that reminds us we’re not doing this alone.
More soon. For now, save the space. We hope to see you there.