Yesterday I was cycling along the Austin to Manor trail. As you get further out and away from Austin proper, the land takes on a distinctly central Texas feel. Wide open plains dotted with the occasional tree, and beautiful strokes of wildflowers racing across the land. It's quiet and serene, but there's also a quiet sense of strength as the unrelenting Texas sun beats down on all who dare to venture out of the comfort of the shade. I recognized that I felt something in that moment - something familiar that I'd felt before on other rides and runs. I felt a sense of belonging.

I think "belonging" in a place is more complex than identifiers like "citizenship" or "residency". It's not about just living in a place, it's about becoming a part of it. And the only way to be a part of the land is to struggle. When you struggle against the forces of the sun and conquer the terrain on foot or on a bike - you belong here. When you struggle against the forces of the economy and carve out a living - you belong here. When you struggle against the inertia that demands inaction and instead build communities and relationships - you belong here.

In the present day there's been a lot of turmoil over definitions of who deserves to stay in the nation. I think a lot of the discussions miss the fundamental understanding of what it means to belong in a place, and the human aspect of belonging. I hope things change.