Reflection

            Family is a short word with deep substance to it. The word family is in fact more than just a word; it is a meaning of love, security, and belonging. Although some may not choose to accept their family as the people who are blood related to them, no matter the person and the situation, everyone has a family. Whatever the family unit may be it is simple to say that families can help us to survive and prosper socially, culturally, and spiritually.

            Growing up in a family allows a person to grow socially. This, I think, can especially be the case when growing up with siblings. Learning how to interact with others in courteous and mannerly ways allows a person to develop the social skills they need to obtain to maximize their relationship with others throughout their life. I am grateful that my parents taught me how to be kind and thoughtful of others, and I am grateful for my brothers, who got all of my practice efforts laid out on them for years.  

            We can learn so much about the culture we are raised in through our families. Every family has a history; good and bad things we can learn about our past. When we research and find out more about our ancestors that came before us, we can really start to appreciate family members, and the members that sacrificed so much and worked hard in order for us to be living the lives that we are now. As John Florez explains in The Family Endures, “[families] gave me a sense of community, a sense of belonging.” (Notarianni 6) When we know where we come from, it can help us be appreciate for our family, and to have the motivation to work hard to be a good addition to the name.

            Our families also help us spiritually. Coming to know whom we are is a big part of live. You often hear people saying that they are still trying to figure out who they are. Our families, through nurturing, play a big role in who we are and who we become. We exude characteristics from the people we love and spend time with. We reflect upon what we love about family members and apply those characteristics into our own lives. It is also important that we develop who we are as individuals, too.  We are as Wild Oats: “…Wild oats…as reckless and carefree as a significant misnomer…equipped to make strong attachments to the place it lands…wild oats wait with faith and certainty for the opportunity to make itself a home. To quite literally sow wild oats, then, suggests a resolute will to take root in the community of vegetable sisters, wherever the wind blows you.” (Funda 31-32) I believe we are similar to a wild oat. We need to go into the world to find ourselves. However, we also realize that out families help up us to develop too, and we are grateful to establish roots with people we love. Once those roots are deeply established, there is a sense of happiness and comfort that nothing else can fill.

            Families can bring us true happiness in life. Who are we with ought them, really? Our families help us to survive and prosper socially, culturally, and spiritually. Without my family, I don’t know where I would be today. I have learned so much from them, and throughout this semester and this class-where I am always thinking of them-my appreciation and love toward them has only grown. 
 

Works Cited

·      Exerpts from “Wild Oats,” third chapter of Weeds: A Farm Daughter’s Lament, By Evelyn I. Funda

·      The Family Endures: A look at Utah History, By Philip F. Norarianni