“We can choose our friends but we cannot choose our family”
The above quote is a common phrase that we’ve all heard at least once in our lifetime, possibly a phrase that we all take for granted and refuse to ponder on.
As I have grown up, I have disregarded my family in so many ways, however recently I’ve realised that this cannot occur anymore. I am learning how important family is and why we have them. I suffer from social anxiety which has often stopped me from participating in family activities, I now realise that when it comes to family, this isn’t an excuse, our family are always there for us, whether we like it or not.
There’s also a common saying about being in a room full of people but feeling alone, well with family this shouldn’t happen. Families are there so we don’t feel alone, so we can always ask for help.
I’m no expert and everyone’s circumstances are completely different however I would argue that despite what we may think, our families are there to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on, our families are the first friends we make in life and certainly are not there to judge us.
I truly believe that our family is what we make it, but without family, we are not whole. Although our parents may aggravate us by condemning us from doing certain things, it is all necessary, in years to come we will be grateful and possibly finding ourselves making the same decisions as them.
Families are important and fundamental to our moral values as they create a stable unit for us, they allow us to grow and also set boundaries that maybe just our conscience wouldn’t be able to do.
While researching in preparation for this article, I discovered two other interesting articles about family and its significance, one is written from an experts point of view and the other was written from the teenager’s point of view. These helped put my views into perspective.
Perhaps, whilst we try to solve other problems, we should try not to overlook the centre of our worlds, our families. We should spend more time with them and have more fun. We should talk more and be less afraid of their opinions.
I hope that someone may read this and feel the need to restore the relationship with their loved ones. It could just take one small action for things to change, it is the effort and thought that counts. I wish you all the best. If there’s one thing to take away from this article, please let it be not to take the family for granted.
