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The importance of family
"You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family" is a familiar quote. The quote holds much truth. Throughout your life you have the option of choosing friends. You don't have the option to choose the family in which you are born. You do have the reward of having a family, the people who influence and mold you even before your birth.
Family is so very important. Bonding with family is important. Getting to know each other and spending time together as a family helps you to know how to build stronger relationships outside of family. Within a family unit, you learn how to relate, how to listen and understand and how to resolve conflict. You grow within a family unit.
Not every family is ideal. Every family has problems and some are severely dysfunctional. It's important to come together as a family and try to resolve any issues that are preventing you from having a happy and healthy home life. Children deserve to be loved and nurtured and prepared to go out into the world when they grow up with courage, strength and a sense of what makes up a healthy relationship. You don't want your children dating or marrying the wrong person because of the influence of what they experienced in childhood.
Family isn't always the one in which you are born. Because of circumstances such as divorce or estrangement, your family might be formed by close friends. Close friends are a valuable family of support, encouragement and love. They should never be taken for granted. You should do what it takes to maintain the close bond.
If you are starting over after 40 because of divorce, your children leaving home or whatever the circumstances, it's especially important to have close family bonds. This is possible through your biological family or your friends. It's much better to have the support of people who care than to go it alone.
There are so many problems in this world, which makes it all the more important for strong family bonds. Put down the cell phones, the gadgets and spend more time together. Make schedules so you can eat meals together. Plan fun and simple activities that include the entire family. Make your family, whether it's the one you were born into or not, priority.
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