On Family

I had this thought pop in my head after Tuesday's class and couldn't quite shake it... So you guys get to read it. There are some sayings that we tend to cut short and consequently change the meanings of. One is "curiosity killed the cat." The part that we forget is "satisfaction brought it back." Similarly, my older sister loves to spout out "blood is thicker than water" whenever she talks about relationships.

The part that she and so many others forget (or maybe ignore), is that the full phrase is "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb." Ties to your family are there and shape your person, but that's not excuse support your family if they hurt you. I don't even mean to the extremes that we see in The Stain. I mean when your dad cuts you off because he doesn't value your opinion. I mean when your mom compares you to your siblings and sees how you don't measure up. Guys, when your family tells you to "man up" when you're upset and showing your barest and most raw emotions. Ladies, when your parents tell you that you do things well "for a girl." 

I'm not saying cut off your family entirely (except in abuse cases. Totally cut them off then), but don't subscribe to their mindset just because they expect you to. Question them and demand why they think what they say/do is okay. If they tell you that you're making them uncomfortable, say "good" because discomfort brings change.