I've had a rough couple weeks with being sick and all, and I have been
pretty lucky because my wife checked in on me. And I have been
thinking a lot about the various kinds of relationships in my life, and
which ones are good, which ones are ok, and which ones seem to do
nothing but invite disaster in my life. (I'm trying to remedy that
number. Eh heh.) What I have been thinking about this week is all
about family, and all about how much my family matters to me.
You know, it's times like this that I think of Aristotle. (Which is rare, because most days I choose not to think about Aristotle. Not a fan, I guess.) He had some really great ideas about the oikos, or 'family household' that still translate across the ages. Artistotle said that the family was the building block for all society. It allows people to become members of the polis (city-state) because it's the basic unit required for good living in a larger community. In essence, society can't exist without families. And, in a way, neither can we. The family comes even before the individual, because you need a group of people to acknowledge roles and places in society. (Now, I'm paraphrasing a bit)
Anyways!
More importantly, I think it's important to remember how valuable it is to have a family, no matter how big, or how small. Families can change, grow closer, move apart, but more than anything, families will always, in their own way, accept you for who you are, and help you when you really need it. (Not necessarily when we always want it, but hey. Can't always win.)
No group, organization, or other sort of group can replace your family. They are yours for life, and their history and accomplishments are part of your successes, accomplishments, and happiness. Of course, on the flip side, their negatives, their failures, and their inability to love at times is also part of your identity.
I really am lucky to have the family I have, even though it's not always perfect, and many times, it's pretty complicated. But on the bright side of all that, I am lucky to have a family that is built on loving people in their own way.
More importantly, I think it's important to remember how valuable it is to have a family, no matter how big, or how small. Families can change, grow closer, move apart, but more than anything, families will always, in their own way, accept you for who you are, and help you when you really need it. (Not necessarily when we always want it, but hey. Can't always win.)
No group, organization, or other sort of group can replace your family. They are yours for life, and their history and accomplishments are part of your successes, accomplishments, and happiness. Of course, on the flip side, their negatives, their failures, and their inability to love at times is also part of your identity.
I really am lucky to have the family I have, even though it's not always perfect, and many times, it's pretty complicated. But on the bright side of all that, I am lucky to have a family that is built on loving people in their own way.
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