What is family?
What is family?
There’s a number of definitions in Merriam-Webster. Without
needing to define it, family is something that can often be felt, or seen, even
experienced.
So I am led to wonder, what, or who is my family? I can clearly
define a short answer, as I wake in my home daily to the warm hearts and smiles
of my wife and daughters. Does it extend beyond that?
Certainly, by blood, I am related to everyone around me.
Genealogically we are all approximately 50th cousins. Should a
closer blood relation yield more connectedness? Is that reason enough to care,
look out, or otherwise work for another person?
Should family be built on ideology alone? It is said to be a good
thing to surround yourself with ‘like-minded people.’ At what point does this
become a Dogmatic lullaby? So too is it said to challenge oneself by getting
outside of your comfort zone, or thinking outside the box. Some follow this
path only to end up wandering alone in far reaches.
As I ponder these things, begin a patriarchal journey of my own
and seek foundational strength, I begin to see family as a sort of an anchor; A
common core around which greater ideas and concepts can be built. I am learning
that, without this, there can be no true success. Without this it is impossible
to build something bigger that will grow beyond myself.
I love my families: The family I am growing, the Family of
Community that helps to support me as I try to reciprocate (Town I work for, Ski
Area in town, FD/EMS volunteering), the family that helped make and shape me
from youth into adulthood. I know, Mom and Dad, I was given the best possible
with what we had and how you knew to parent. I am grateful for that, beyond
words. The only way I can try to express that is to pay it forward through my
girls and future generations.
I have had my way led by a loving sister. I know I am not the
best possible brother. I will not ask forgiveness for imperfection, rather a
pardon as life is an ongoing lesson I continue to learn. Being an older sibling
cannot be easy and is even more difficult to do gracefully. Thank you.
Appropriately, your daughter taught me to change diapers, then
helped change the diapers for my first born. I love you. I don’t know exactly
what an uncle is supposed to do. I do what I can where I see fit.
Interpersonal
relationships are emotional. These feelings are what make us uniquely human and
can bind or drive apart. Life is also unidirectional: We must be forward
moving. Therefore thinking and looking forward can be appropriate. I envision a
future of closeness and interconnectedness through family and community.
Learning
only happens through observation and example. Today’s leaders shape tomorrow. I
ask that we create learning that will lead to unity. This will be our
foundation of success:
 |
| My Family and I this Fall |
Family Mission
To put God,
Self and Family on a Pedestal, above all else
To live in
love for God, Self, Spirit and fellow Human
To be Honest,
take Responsibility, Give Credit when due, be Humble
in Success
To see a
world full of lessons and opportunity
To
continually Improve for OurSelves and most importantly Each Other
To Thrive
under a Paradigm of Abundance and Belief, with a Curious drive towards
Understanding
To be
Vulnerable in Life and Love, Filled with Love and Affection in times of
Adversity
To Embrace Life
Fully with Positivity, by Living in the Moment Through Appreciation of All Things
Big and Small
To hold these
as Core Values and surround YourSelf with Like-Valued People
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