Question #1 on Family

If you dislike your family, are you obligated to spend time with them?  Show up at family functions? Help them out in their time of need?  Is a family even relevant anymore especially when you have a close circle of friends?

I don’t believe in the idea of obligation (see here rule #14 ) so no you’re not obligated to spend time with your family.  Should you?  Yes. Why? Because  no one understands us  quite like our family does.  They’ve seen us at our best and our worst.  Our siblings more than anyone gets why we are the way we are.  Our parents watched us grown and learn everything we know.  Just by sheer proximity they know you better than most people ever will.   However, if you and your family don’t get along and you find their company to be draining and having a negative impact on your life then cut ties and don’t look back.  I know that sounds harsh but you don’t owe anyone anything especially something as limited as your time.  You have to respect yourself enough to walk away from ANYONE (friends, family, etc) or ANYTHING (job, partying, hobbies) that is having a negative impact on your life.

As far as helping them in their time of need goes, every situation is different and the hardest back to turn is yours on your family.  If some part of your family is constantly putting themselves into bad situations you eventually have to let go.  You can’t go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it’s just a cage.  At the end of the day you can’t make people change.  There’s no limit to how many chances to give someone but eventually you have to accept reality.

I do still believe that family is relevant.  Regardless of how close your family is or how often you see each other there is still an unbreakable special bond between you.  As I mentioned earlier no one can understand you the same way that your family does.  While your spouse or friends may grow to love your eccentricities they’ll never be able to fully understand where they came from or why you turned out they way you did. Staying connected with your past in itself is enough to always keep families relevant.

Agree? Disagree? Let me below!