I am at a place in my life where I’ve really been forced to question the true meaning of “family.” Sure, it’s the people you’re related to by blood or marriage. But is it? Not to me; not anymore. I think it’s pretty obvious that I’m different from most of the people I’m related to. A lot of them grew up thinking a certain way, believing certain things. I tend to differ on a lot of those beliefs. But that shouldn’t make me less lovable or less of a family member, right? I’m talking specifically about the people who are supposed to care about me no matter what. Certain members of my extended family love and care for me in ways that I can never be thankful enough for. But there are other people who I should be able to depend on forever for love and support who seem to want nothing to do with me. And I’m not sure exactly what I’ve done to create this distance. Was it being the first on each side to pursue a college degree? Maybe it’s my lack of a teen pregnancy that makes me more estranged from these people. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. And from this point forward, the people I consider my “family” are the ones who appreciate that about me. (Or just the people who appreciate me in general.)