We Are Family

I got all my sisters with me!  (Ok, tell me you didn’t start singing that in your head when you saw the title.)

What we are talking about today expands on my last post about making an impact on the lives of those around us.  We’re taking it beyond helping or caring and up to a whole new level: What’s often referred to as “Found Family”.

Particularly in Young Adult stories, you’ll find that the main character feels like they are an outcast.  Maybe they’re different (Cinder of the Lunar Chronicles is a cyborg, and viewed as less than human) or they feel abandoned by society (Kaz of Six of Crows after his brother’s death).  Many times, they don’t have immediate family (it’s one of the ways YA stories force the teenagers to be in charge).  So this is all sounding pretty mournful.  What does it have to do with making connections?

These stories incorporate love, and we’re not talking romance.  We’re talking about finding people who are there for you through thick and thin, more than a best friend, but a sister (or a brother).

That’s why it’s called “Found Family”.  Oftentimes, the journey isn’t started to find family.  Maybe they don’t even realize how much they need a family.  They may think they are invincible or too independent for something they see as a weakness.  But at the end of the day, it’s the family that makes it worth while.  And a lot more fun too.  Because they know how to push all your buttons and make you take yourself less seriously.  (And if you’re being crowned as long lost royalty, make sure they’re in the front row to greet you with a high five.  It’s the perfect way to release tension.  Just as Cinder.  She’s even going to make it the official greeting for royalty).

So, the next time you feel like there is no one else in the world who understands you, just remember that with a little searching, you’ll find the ones who just get you, and love you for it.  It may come from completely unexpected places, so embrace the new experiences and let the journey take you to your Family.