Family Forever

The United States Bureau of the Census defines family as, "two or more persons, including the householder, who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption, and who live together as one household."  From this definition, it can be broken down into topics such as nuclear or extended family.  I don't believe, however, that family can be as cut and dry as specified by definitions.  The word "family" is interpreted different by every individual, with each person having his or her own unique meaning to this word.

My version of family mainly falls into the category of an extended family, but it broadens from that as well.  An extended family is the nuclear family, consisting of parents and children, as well as other relatives like grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.  I consider this as my family because these are the people I can go to whenever I'm in need and they will ALWAYS be there for me to help and care in any way that I need.  I also believe that close friends can be considered family.  Over the years, I have developed close friendships in which the principles coincide with those used between me and my extended family.   As Tracy Lawrence sings in his hit, "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," it's someone that will drop everything to come help you.  Friends who are willing to go the extra mile for you I consider a part of my family.

Unfortunately, many Americans do not view family as I do, and many are not fortunate enough to share the positive experiences and love with their families as I have the opportunity to do.  In some cases, a family has been broken apart by things like drugs and alcohol, divorce, and even death.  Things that have the ability to tear a family apart affect all those involved, crippling the ability to have a positive family lifestyle.  In an instance of a teenager leaving his home and family to join a gang, the teenager's family life may have provided an inadequate amount of love and support for him.  By going to join a gang, he has the ability to be a part of a family where everyone watches out for each other.  Gang life may be the only way a teenager feels secure and loved because his family wasn't there for the support and care this boy dearly needed.

Whether one's family consists of a nuclear family, an extended family, a group of friends, or those "brothers" in a gang, family means something to everyone.  Family are those people who are with you, and vice versa, through thick and thin.  I am extremely proud of my family and all we have accomplished together.  Both sides of my family have a rich heritage that I am continually trying to embrace more and more in my everyday life.  Someday I wish to honor and represent my family by having a tattoo of my family crest or the ambigram tattoo from one of my favorite basketball players, Andy Rautins, embedded into my skin to show that they're always with me.

 

As it says on Andy Rautins' tattoo,  FAMILY FOREVER!!!!!!