What is the meaning of Family?

Websters Dictionary has 8 definitions for family. Wikipedia, has 20 content markers referring to family, with 30 sub-content markers. Www.etymonline.com- the online facts of origin dictionary expresses a few different paths of origin for the word and its indications. The one thing they all have in common? Every one of them has a reference to family being a group owned and lead by one head. Etymonline relates the origin to be directly of servants, or slaves. Is this what we are when we call ourselves a family? Is this why the human race family has such an issue maintaining a bond which can be beneficial for all? Because everyone wants to be the chief and no one wants to be the indians? Is the battle really one we can win, when someone is always striving for the top?

Realistically, we are all under some authority, whether it be our boss, our spouse, our children, or our government, we all have someone else to answer to. EVERYONE has someone they must answer to. Even the guy with the most money at the top of the Forbes list must be held accountable for his actions when under the scrutiny of the entire population. Even the homeless man on the corner must answer to mother nature when she declares her war on him living out doors with a blizzard. We all have someone we must answer to. Yet, most of us are so unaccountable and unreliable to the things that go on around us, simply out of ignorance. While I don’t expect everyone to learn everything and become efficient in all things rather than an expert in one thing and proficient in others, it does clearly mark how valuable one person is in comparison to another. This behavior leaves lines open for judgement, labels and values beyond our acceptance and appreciation. It also leaves that guy on the street that must suffer year round in order to “not answer to the man”. Why are we all so up in arms about how we compare to others anyway? Because someone makes more than you or can perform surgery and you cannot, does not make you less valuable in the grand scheme of things. We can all look down on sanitation workers and say that its an awful job, that only deserves so much pay, but the fact is, if it weren’t for them, we would be wallowing in our own filth.

What we can do as a family, is discontinue the image of slavery to one another and embrace the kindness and ability of others for their hard work and dedication to serving their purpose, whatever it may be. If we could mainstream the economy and everyone could work at something they could do in order to trade for something they cannot, we could develop a world where everyone is expected to step up and do their part. If they choose to do nothing, they get nothing in return. Not a government who hands out money they take from one person to another who is just unable to work, but one that recognizes those that are in need by their willingness to do even a small amount of work to their ability in order to trade. My brother was born with many disabilities which at the time was called “profoundly retarded.” He couldn’t walk, talk, see or have normal thoughts like the majority of us. He could however, make people laugh. He gave out a sense of purpose for others and was an inspiration for people to have hope in their lives, despite the odds. He taught us that you’re lovable even when you have cheerios stuck to your face and that if 3 a.m. was the time you felt like singing, to go ahead and sing. He had a lot of gifts to give to us, and we were all willing to work a little harder as a group in order to care for him. If he were alive today, I would trade my abilities in excess for trades that would benefit him. I would go above and beyond in order to help the ones who needed me and give to those less fortunate on my own. I wouldn’t need the government to convince me that he deserved it or he was unable to trade for himself. And I am pretty sure the neighbors, friends and dare I say family, would have gladly traded for him as well. No need to regulate, no need to mandate. Just out of love, just out of kindness, just out of understanding. I am pretty sure that if the powers that be left us on our own to figure it out for awhile, we would have a few Ceasar’s and Hitler’s to deal with. But for the most part, I believe like the Native Americans, that we could find a manner in which to care for one another. We could find it in our hearts to tolerate and handle the sick and the elderly. We could make this work a lot better if we were willing to decide for ourselves and be accountable to one another. If it was unacceptable to not be accountable, rather than punished and shamed through the judicial system. It may be rocky at first, but eventually, we would all figure out that we are all slaves to one another. But only if we want to be. And only if that’s the name and continued meaning we give it.

Up until now, I was a slave. I did what I had to in order to earn means to acquire what I wanted and needed. I judged myself through economic views of society and others. I judged others through similar views.

From now on, I will no longer consider myself to be a slave. I will do what it takes in order for me to gain the acceptance and appreciation of those that surround me. I will do this because I want to be a part of the whole. I want to contribute to the betterment of mankind. I want to do what I can with my abilities to the best of my effort in order to bring value to my work. Not for pay, for rules or for regulations, but because I insist on serving those that serve me. I want to make a difference and show initiative. I want to motivate others. I want to empower them to be all that they can be by showing them the way. I want to start a revolution. A revolution of love.