Nomadic Diaries
Belonging Beyond Borders with Megan Norton
Nov 21, 2023
Season 1
Episode 14
Doreen Cumberford
We are thrilled to bring you a brand new episode of Nomadic Diaries featuring Megan Norton.
Megan, an author and daughter of a diplomat, shares her insights on cultivating a sense of belonging for adult Third Culture Kids (TCKs) in her latest book, "Belonging Beyond Borders: How Adult Third Culture Kids Can Cultivate a Sense of Belonging."
During the podcast episode, Megan discusses how her book goes beyond the TCK community, exploring the universal human need for belonging. Using analogies from the garden, Megan delves into the patterns and opportunities for belonging, emphasizing the time, effort, and rooting necessary to thrive in new environments.
Megan draws from her own highly mobile childhood, having grown up in six different countries. She shares some memorable gardening experiences, such as the beautiful gardens in Vienna, Austria, which hold a special place in her heart.
Megan also discusses the significance of rooting in both the garden and human life, highlighting the attachment to people and places that contribute to a sense of belonging.
During the episode, we delved into the themes of her latest book, "Belonging Beyond Borders: How Adult Third Culture Kids Can Cultivate a Sense of Belonging."
Here are three key takeaways from our conversation that I believe you'll find valuable:
1️⃣ Belonging is a universal human need: While the book focuses on TCKs, the concept of belonging extends beyond this specific demographic. Whether you're a TCK or not, understanding how to cultivate a sense of belonging is relevant to all of us.
2️⃣ The garden analogy: In my book, I use analogies from the garden to explore patterns in belonging and opportunities for belonging. The garden metaphor is endless and helps us understand the time, effort, and rooting necessary to truly thrive in our sense of belonging.
3️⃣ Rooting and attachment: Just like plants in a garden, we need to root ourselves to places and people in order to feel a sense of belonging. Rooting allows us to attach and thrive. However, uprooting can be traumatic, so it's crucial to minimize the associated trauma and invest in the skills required for successful transitions.
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