When you don’t have family: Belonging by design

If you don’t have a conventional family network — by choice or by circumstance — you’re not broken, behind, or alone. You’re simply on a different path. And here’s the hopeful truth: belonging isn’t only inherited through family. It can be built — intentionally, practically, and even joyfully.

In this piece, I’m speaking to solo adults and to anyone who wants to design belonging on purpose.

In my work, I see a real shift when someone moves from “Why don’t I have a family?” to “What do I need, and how will I create it?” Energy returns. Decisions get clearer. The day feels less precarious and more purposeful. The goal isn’t to fix what’s missing; it’s to architect what’s possible: a sturdy circle of people, a few simple practices that keep you steady, and some readiness steps for the momen