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Deep inside of everyone lies the profound desire to hold on to the sanctity and security of what we perceive family to be. This is best defined as your support system. People you turn to when you seek advice, love, guidance and much, much, more. The unconditional love given freely and without prejudice. It's the unity among a group of people who care and tend to each other's needs. These people could be your parents, siblings, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and/or friends.

The nurturing aspect of family is passed on from generation to generation and is instilled in us from an early age. We observe our parents and how they interact with their family members and we grow to expect this in our own lives. Then to the best of our ability, we try to pass these values on to our own children. The strong sense of self we embody is the one we inherit from our family and embrace.

As a child growing up in a third-world country I have grown to respect the gift of family. We depended on all members of our family for the support we needed to see us through another day. We were able to go to them freely without shame or embarrassment and receive in return love and understanding. I remember once a situation that is indicative of this. I borrowed my Dad's car one day to go to the club for a tennis game and unfortunately a cricket ball from the adjoining club chose to find it's way to my father's car, out of all the other cars parked there and smashed the windshield to bits. I was terrified to go home and explain this to my Dad. After all, his car was his prized possession. Instead, I went to my Uncle's house and having explained what happened, he decided to accompany me home and be my support system as I tried to tearfully break the news to my Dad. My Dad understood of course but it made a big difference to me to have my Uncle by my side to take the edge off. This sense of family is what is responsible for who I am today and for that I am truly blessed.

In today's society however, family takes on a whole new meaning but the underlying values I truly believe are still there. It just means it's harder now for families to pass on these values when children are more conditioned by their exposure to material things such as television, video games etc. Gone are the days of family stories and traditions. A single parent trying to raise their kids alone face numerous obstacles each and every day and the absence of family members makes it all that harder to cope in an unforgiving world. Perhaps if they had the support system they enjoyed as children, it would be so much easier for them to pass on this gift.

It would be nice to live in a world where family means support and love regardless of who you are and whatever difficulties you are facing in today's world. Only then can we hope to understand the true meaning of family.

"If you've had wonderful family relationships, you will be able to call yourself a true success in life no matter what else you've achieved." - Vic Conant, Nightingale Conant

Learn more about this author, Debora Spadafora.
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