Why Family Is The Most Important Thing

Why Family Is The Most Important Thing

People who say they will always be there for you are not always there for you, but if it is two in the morning or four in the afternoon, I know I can always count on my family to be there.
Megan Bradley
Megan Bradley May 31, 2016
61638
views

Over the past 20 years of my life, many things have changed, including my friends, style, morals and jobs. With everything constantly changing around me, there is one thing that has always stayed the same: my family.

When I think about my happiest moments in life, they all involve my family. My relationship with my parents and siblings is something that I learn to treasure more and more every day. There are many important things in life, but the most important thing to me is family.

Your family is made up of people that bring out the best in you. Although you cannot choose your family, they are the people you can relate to the most. They are the people who are always cheering you on and truly want the best for you.

My family has made me who I am today. Without my dad pushing me to excel in school or my sisters forcing me to apply to Penn State, I would not be where I am today. They have challenged me, loved me and made me a better person. They have guided me through life and have constantly been my number one fans.

There has never once been a moment in my life where my family was not there when I needed them. They have been there with me through my best times, worst times and times where I did not think I had anyone. The more that I mature the more I come to the realization that people who say they will always be there for you are not always there for you. But if it is two in the morning or four in the afternoon, I know I can always count on my family to be there for me.

If I ever need a good laugh or cry I know I can always go to my sisters. They are not only my family but also my best friends, soulmates, role models and partners in crime. They know how to give the best advice and are always positive and smiling. Whenever I am having a bad day, I know I can count on them to brighten my mood or calm me down. They are truly two of the most beautiful people in the world, and their happiness gives me life.

Whenever I am stressed out or need advice, I can always go to my dad. My dad is my superhero. He is strong, intelligent, and sincere. He knows how to give the best advice and be the better person. He knows when I am stressed and need a reality check or when I am proud and need humbling. He has gotten me through the toughest times in my life and has made some of the best moments in my life possible. Without him, my life would be less colorful.

My mom is the person I go to for everything — and I mean everything. People sometimes make fun of me for talking to my mom six times a day, but if they knew our relationship, they would get it. My mom is gracious, kind, and full of life. She is the person that I call when I just need to talk. I can tell her everything, and she never judges me. She is truly an angel to my family and the best person I know.

Without each member of my family celebrating with me, crying with me, laughing with me and grieving with me, my life would simply not be the same. I would have no one to call at day-longs, no one to vent to, no one to share my accomplishments with, and most importantly, no one to love unconditionally.

Never forget the power of family. Make sure to thank your parents every day, call your siblings to see how they are, and cherish every moment you have with them. Without them, you would not be who you are today. Family is the best and most important gift in our lives, and it is important to embrace it every day.

Cover Image Credit: Megan Bradley
Megan Bradley
Megan Bradley May 31, 2016
At King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

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Dear Mom, From Your Daughter In College

Here are all the things our phone calls aren't long enough to say.
Holly Moore
Holly Moore Mar 1, 2016
264961
views

Dear Mom,

Do you remember when I was three and we would play together? It was the age of princesses and carpet that was actually lava, and you were the prettiest woman in the whole wide world. Do you remember when I was in high school and the world seemed too big and scary? You would know exactly when to take me on a mother-daughter date and have me laughing about anything and everything, and you were the smartest woman in the whole wide world. Now, I'm buried in homework and deadlines hours away from you and we don't get to talk as much you want, but you're still the prettiest, smartest woman in the whole wide world.

I'm sorry that I don't call you as much as I should, and you know a lot of what goes on in my world via posts and pictures. Our schedules just seem to never line up so we can have the three-hour conversations about everything like I want to. I know we don't agree on absolutely everything, but I cherish every piece of advice you give me, even though it probably seems like I'm hardly listening. I know that sometimes we get on each other's nerves, but thank you for putting up with me for all of these years. Thank you for listening to me cry, complain, question things and go on and on about how everything in college is. I know I don't come home as much as I used to, but I think about you all the time. After all, you're my first friend, and therefore, my best friend.

Thank you for celebrating my successes with me, and not downing me too hard for my failures. Thank you for knowing what mistakes I shouldn't make, but letting me make them anyway because you want me to live my life and be my own person. Thank you for knowing when to ask about the boy I've been talking about, and when to stop without any questions. Thank you for letting me be my crazy, weird, sometimes know-it-all self.

Thank you for sitting back and watching me spread my wings and fly. There is no way I could have known how to grow into the woman I am today if I hadn't watched you while I was growing up so I would know what kind of person I should aspire to be. Thank you for being the first (and the best) role model I ever had. You continue to inspire and amaze me every day with all that you do, and all that you are.

I don't know how I got so lucky to have a person in my life like you, but I thank the Lord every night for blessing me with the smartest, prettiest person to be my best friend, my role model, my confidant, my person and most importantly, my mother.

Love,

Your daughter

Cover Image Credit: Pexels
Holly Moore
Holly Moore Mar 1, 2016
At Stephen F. Austin State University

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That Boy Won’t Cure Your Loneliness Or Fix All Your Problems— So Please Stop Expecting Him To

You need to find yourself first and really fall in love with that self before you can find your person and fall in love with him.

Elle Hong
Elle Hong Jan 17, 2019
363
views

The biggest misconception I had about love is that it would fix all the problems in my life. I inevitably thought love would give me a lifelong soulmate so I wouldn't feel so goddamn lonely all the time.

That happily ever after. A forever ride or die.

Once we fall in love with someone, we experience that euphoric feeling of passion and admiration. It's a great feeling, isn't it? That there's that boy who's all about you, just as you, are heads-over-heels about him. The world seems to be spinning in the right direction, and you suddenly believe that perhaps this boy was your lucky charm, a special omen brought exclusively from the heavens.

This boy knows all your tiny little secrets, calls you beautiful and stares at you lovingly when you walk alongside each other, hand in hand. With him, you feel as if you aren't lonely anymore. That you won't be that sad pathetic girl alone at a New Year's Eve Party anymore. That you'll have this boy to lean onto no matter what.

He says he's all yours, anyway. He puts your number in as "Babygirl" on his phone. He never misses the chance to text you good morning and be the last one to end a conversation before you drift off to sleep.

Let me get real with you, ladies. But this boy probably won't cure your sad loneliness or fix all the problems in your life. He won't become your soulmate, but instead, he's going to be a distraction. He's going to be a lesson, whether he breaks your heart or not.

Because once you start fully depending on this boy for emotional and moral support, he's going to start becoming distant. He's most likely not going to be there for you when shit happens, for one reason or another. He's not going to know what to say when you start crying other than a simple "It's going to be okay". Don't necessarily blame him for that. I guarantee that you're going to start blaming yourself about his behavior. And the more you start blaming yourself for how he's changed, it's only going to distract you from actually realizing the true reasons behind your problems and acting on them.

I know this all sounds a bit startling.

Try flipping the tables and think of it this way:

You just met this amazing guy. He's good looking, educated, passionate and respectful, etc. You have so much fun around him, and you come to fall in love with all his imperfections. But as time drags on, he begins to rant about how miserable school/work is and how much he hates these littlest of things you find a bit ridiculous. Imagine how confused and overwhelmed you would feel if he begins piling that stress onto you, telling you "But dating you is going to make me feel better about _____ since you're going to be here with me through it, right?"

I don't know about you but after hearing that, I would be running away at full tilt.

Now I'm not saying you have to be happy and bubbly around a boy 24/7. I'm not promoting some type of relationship where everything is perfect—of course, you'll come to find differences, have arguments and lean on each other during tough times.

I guess what I'm saying is that you shouldn't have to depend on someone in order to find your way through life or to feel less lonely.

Why should you feel that only a man would have the capabilities to change your problems? We're strong independent women, after all.

In most situations, you will only have yourself to lean on since not everyone's going to be there for you.

A boy isn't willing to fix all the problems in your life by licking your wounds and bandaging them up. Sure, he might be around to express sympathy and hold you when all you want to do is cry. But he's mainly going to be a part of your life to support you. He'll support your decisions and support you for how well you handle yourself. He'll love you for your independence, not how dependent you are. He fell in love with that free spirit from the beginning.

And if he left your life, he may have done so because *news flash* men aren't good with all that emotional baggage. Simple as that. So erase all those crazy thoughts about him secretly cheating on you or being a dick for wanting to end things.

My mom once told me this about love: "You need to find yourself first and really fall in love with that self before you can find your person and fall in love with him."

So, my friends, if you haven't found a boy yet, don't lose hope—he's going to come along.

But you need to find yourself first.

Elle Hong
Elle Hong Jan 17, 2019
At UCLA

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