Is there a difference ?
Family. I’ve always had a weird relationship with that word. Relatives, an even weirder relationship. Family is defined as any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins.Relative is defined as a person who is connected with another or others by blood or marriage.
Based on these two technical definitions it would seem as if the two words mean the same thing. I bet 90% of people in the world would also agree that the words are the same.
I beg to differ. The words family and relative are NOT the same in my world. Most of my family are made up of people who I am NOT related to by blood. The majority of my relatives I don’t talk to nor have a relationship with. Does it bother me ? It used to but not anymore. There was even a time I refused to consider people who I wasn’t related to by blood as family. People who was always there for me, never let me down, and quite frankly always showed they cared.
What I’ve realized is that being related by blood doesn’t guarantee that you will have a family type of relationship and not being related by blood doesn’t mean we aren’t family. Those who I consider my family want the best for me, care about my well being, make an effort to have a relationship with me, and they always keep it 100. I return those same things to them and more.
My loyalty to family is different than relatives. My concern for family is different than relatives. I used to feel bad for feeling this way but I do not any longer. I have the right to protect my energy and space it starts with those who are closest to me and who are my family.
If you find yourself going in circles with people who you consider family maybe it’s time to re-evaluate if they really are family. You can never change who you’re related to but you have the right to create your own family. I would love to hear your experiences with family and relatives. Have you found yourself surrounded by a family of non-related individuals ? Lets chat leave a comment below, you’re not alone.
