A Journey of Belonging, Identity, and the Silent Strength That Grounds Us
As we traverse through life—across cities, cultures, and connections—there comes a moment when we pause and ask ourselves: Where do I truly belong? Is it a village kissed by sunshine and monsoon rains? A childhood street lined with familiar trees? Or the inner knowing that something ancient, something sacred, holds us steady through all the chaos?
For me, that something is the roots beneath my feet.
The Unseen Thread
Unlike the branches that sway with the wind or the leaves that dance in the sun, roots remain invisible—humble, buried, and quiet. Yet they are the very source of strength. In much the same way, our past—our family, values, memories, traditions, and even pain—lies hidden beneath the surface of who we appear to be. We rarely speak of it, but it shapes every step we take.
When I think of my roots, I think of the ancestral home where my grandparents once lived—walls faded by time, and floors that creaked like old storytellers. I think of the mango tree under which my cousins and I played for hours, the soil smelling of childhood, the air always filled with the promise of something eternal.
These are not just memories. They are my compass.
The Power of Grounding
In today’s fast-paced, digitised world, where everything is a swipe away and identity often feels curated for social approval, staying grounded is an act of rebellion. My roots remind me of who I am when the lights go off, when the applause dies, when I am just a person looking at the stars, wondering about my place in the universe.
It is so easy to lose yourself in the cities we move to, the careers we chase, or the roles we’re asked to play. But beneath all that glitter lies the fertile earth of our origins—quietly whispering, “Remember.”
And when I do remember, when I place my bare feet on the land that once cradled my ancestors, I feel it—a current of quiet power. A knowing that no matter how far I go, I am never really lost.
When Roots Travel with You
Roots are not always geographical. Sometimes they are people. Sometimes they are values passed down through whispered bedtime tales. Sometimes they are songs sung in your native tongue when you are far away from home.
Once, during a solo trip to Edinburgh, I met an old Indian woman selling hand-knitted woollens. She spoke little English but sang a bhajan softly under her breath. It was the same hymn my grandmother used to hum while grinding spices in her kitchen. That moment—so simple, so fleeting—wrapped around me like a warm shawl. Thousands of miles from home, I was held by something familiar. That’s the beauty of roots. They travel with you.
Nurturing the Soil
The question then arises: how do we stay rooted in a world that constantly asks us to uproot?
The answer lies in intention.
It’s in sitting with your parents and listening to their stories without checking your phone. It’s in cooking a recipe passed down through generations. It’s in speaking your mother tongue to your child, even if it’s just a few phrases. It’s in revisiting the songs, the festivals, the old letters. It’s in writing your story—not for the world to see, but for yourself—to remember, to reclaim, to reconnect.
Because what we water will grow.
Roots and Wings
One of the most beautiful metaphors I’ve come across is this: “The two lasting bequests we can give our children are roots and wings.”
Roots to know where they come from.
Wings to know how far they can go.
We are all searching—for meaning, for love, for fulfilment. But it’s only when we are firmly rooted that we can fly high without losing direction.
Final Thoughts
The roots beneath my feet aren’t just a poetic expression—they are my truth. They’re the silent force that steadies my soul when the world feels like it’s spinning too fast. They are the whisper of my grandmother, the soil of my homeland, the resilience of my parents, the echo of stories told around an oil lamp.
We may not always see them, but they are always there—holding us up, nourishing us from within.
So today, take a moment. Stand still. Feel the earth beneath you. Close your eyes and listen.
Can you feel them?
The roots beneath your feet.
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– Dr. Arwa Saifi
About the Writer
Dr. Arwa Saifi is an acclaimed Career Writer with over 18 years of experience in the literary and education space. Honoured with an Honorary Doctorate in Literature, she is also an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. Her career includes contributions to Education Times, a supplement of The Times of India, where she brought her expertise to one of the country’s leading newspapers.
Dr. Saifi has served as the editor of several prestigious school and college magazines in Mumbai, shaping young voices and nurturing a culture of expression. She is the author of 10 published books and has collaborated as a co-author in more than 40 anthologies. Her work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling, education, and empowering aspiring writers.
