What Does Your Family Look Like?

How do you define family?  Families, special and healthy families, aren’t necessarily connected through biology.  Who is your family?  A family isn’t limited to parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, and grandparents.  Expand your definition.  If you feel lonely or sad regarding your family of origin, look in your life.  Your family can be quite large and close using this new way of defining family.  If you have a friend that doesn’t have the family of their dreams, include them in yours.  Feelings, love, connectedness and sharing of our lives are what make family.  A sense of belonging is what makes a family despite the biology involved.

A few years ago, a friend of mine learned the definition of family in an unexpected way.  A close friend of hers of many years had passed away in a horrible car accident.  Due to circumstances, her friend’s children needed a place to stay.  With no options as far as blood relatives, my friend immediately took in her friend’s two children.  That was five years ago.  My friend adopted the two children and they now live as a family.  Not related by blood but nonetheless as much of a family as if they were.

References of families can be difficult for many of us.  We wish for a certain type of family and come up short.  If only we could have the types of families that would fulfill and sustain us.  If you have that type of family, how special for you.  For those of us that don’t, we can create the one that we long for.  Family is more than DNA, sharing blood type and the biological components of a family.

Rather than feel sad over the family of origin that you don’t have that you wish you did, look at what you do have.  Love and appreciate those people in your life that comprise the best part of what a family is all about.  Change your definition of what a family is and you’ll look no further for what you want.

As you expand your definition of family and thus enlarge your own family that includes family or a family of your choice and a time rich with love, you will a new-found happiness and fulfillment.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator