Family

This is the first August I can remember that I'm not thinking about school starting in just a few weeks. It feels so strange and so right at the same time. As I move into this next stage in my life, I am gaining a true appreciation for everything that has brought me to where I am today.

The struggles.

The triumphs.

The laughs.

The broken hearts.

My friends.

My family.

Family is huge for me right now. It makes sense why. I reconnected with my amazing cousin Kristin in June, and now we are living together and working together. We talk about our family almost every day, and how much we appreciate being brought together. Sharing our sacred home space together while building an amazing place of health, healing and prosperity. 

While thinking about how to describe the love I feel for my family I tried looking up definitions online. It actually made me laugh out loud. Here are some of the ones I found:

- a fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children

- a group of persons sharing common ancestry

- a group of people who are generally not blood relations but who share common attitudes, interests, or goals

And my personal favourite...

- a locally independent organized crime unit 

Family isn't something easily defined in a one or two dictionary style sentence. For me, how I define and feel about my family is constantly in flux. About a month ago I participated in the Landmark Advanced Course over in Vancouver and it was incredible. I got a lot out of it, but I think the most for me was the staggering realization of just how important my family is to me. And that I was carrying around a lot of anger and pain when it came to certain broken relationships. That's all gone now, replaced with amazing possibilities of genuine affection, appreciation and connection.

I started calling people I'd never spoke to on the phone before. I called my Aunts and thanked them for always being there for me. I called a set of grandparents that I didn't know at all and told them I wanted a relationship, and apologized for growing up angry at them that they were not actively involved like my other grandparents. I thanked my parents for everything they've given me. I had the best hug ever with my sister. 

I'm more committed than ever to having a great relationship with every person in my family. They are all such amazing people, and up to some pretty big things! And I am so grateful for each and every one of them. I have so much to learn from each of them as well, and I'm excited to know them for who they are. 

So to my grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, sister, and my huge extended family... this post is for you. As I open the gates to this new life I'm creating, I will remember that I'm never alone. I have a huge group of people rallying behind me, ready to catch and support me whenever I stumble. I will never take that for granted again. Love and hugs to you all.