Family. Six letters, two syllables, one big gigantic word. How is it that so many people can place so much on just one word? Why do we allow people associated with this word to allow us to feel things that we shouldn’t feel?
Things like fear, guilt, sadness, anger even.
Why is it that we feel a higher level of obligation and commitment to family, even if they don’t deserve it?
How come we will allow family to treat us in ways that we would never allow a nonfamily member to treat us? What gives them permission to do that?
Defining family, and redefining what it truly means to be family, not just blood, is important. Without doing that I would have huge amounts of stress my life! Okay, I’ll admit it, even with redefining it, family still causes me stress!
Recently, family has come back into my life requesting to have a relationship. If an old boyfriend that treated me the way this person has, wanted to be back in my life would I let him? Probably not! (At least I believe I wouldn’t let an old boyfriend who neglected me back into my life!)
Why is it that I allow the person that makes me feel most guilty, and more frustrated than anything continue to be in my life? I wouldn’t keep friends like that.
So why is it that my heart pounds, I feel stressed and sad, I want to cry when I hear a certain family member’s voice on my phone? Why is it that I will allow somebody to treat me in a way that is verbally abusive just because they’re family?
Do you struggle with family? How do you protect yourself and redefine the bond that creates this word?
