“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
– Mother Teresa
Do you know that wonderful feeling that washes over you when you walk into a familiar place? Maybe it’s your local coffee shop where everyone waves and calls you by name when you arrive. Or perhaps it’s your home where you are greeted with a huge hug from a loved one or with snuggles from your precious pet. Or perhaps it’s your workplace where your co-workers smile and say, “We missed you,” after you return from a long vacation.
That feeling is belonging.
Belonging is more than being somewhere that people know you. It’s a feeling that results from being connected with a community.
We are part of an amazing community at Ohio State. One of the things I love about being a Buckeye is that you can go almost anywhere in the world and shout, “O-H!” and someone will respond with an “I-O!” That iconic cheer says more than, “I am a Buckeye fan.” It’s an indication that we are Buckeyes. We are connected. We belong to each other.
During this holiday season, I want you to know that I care about you. You are valued and important. You belong to our Buckeye community, and I am glad you are here.
I wish you the warmest winter holiday greetings, and a year filled with joy and belonging.
Carol Bradford, MD, MS
Dean, College of Medicine
Leslie H. and Abigail S. Wexner Dean’s Chair in Medicine
Vice President for Health Sciences, Wexner Medical Center