Fam.
There have been some recent events that have made me think more about family. Not just the word, but the meaning and the concept. There are a few dictionary definitions when it comes to the term "family."
- a group of persons of common ancestry
- a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock
But, at least to me, family is more than what any dictionary can define. Family is the people that are there for you when it counts. They are the ones that laugh with you until you hurt and hug you harder when you are hurting. The ones that you would come running for in a heartbeat and you know they would do the same for you. The ones that check on you--care about you--accept and appreciate you for who you are.
And sometimes the reality of the situation is that those people may not be blood relation. They may not be relation at all.
The reality is that sometimes those that should live up to my description, sadly, do not. In my 33 years on this Earth I have realized that people are inherently more selfish than expected. I have also realized that I have a really good knack for surrounding myself with fantastic people (not to mention I tricked a really good one into marrying me). I have learned that family can share your blood, your relatives, or be chosen, but all of it is important. Family is there for each other, and I have learned recently that unfortunate events sometimes show you exactly who those people will be. It does not matter if they are in your tree, an extension of that tree, or part of the beautiful flowers around it.
