Get a Dominic Toretto-Status "Family"
If you've watched any of the Fast and Furious movies (with the exception of Tokyo Drift), you're familiar with Dom's consistently stressing that friends become family and family is everything. In that same vein, it is amazing to see how being and bonding with family can be so restorative to one's spirit. Over the past two weeks, we had a death in the family that caused a portion of us to travel down South for the funeral. Our matriarch had 11 children and now there are great-grands involved so we as a group are a LOT of people. I used the opportunity to run away from New York for a bit, go down and see family members I haven’t seen in a decade, and be there for moral support. I cannot adequately express how incredibly glad I did. Bonding over shared experiences, shared physical and personality traits, and the rampant sarcasm and laughter that surrounded us the whole weekend long was so pleasurable, despite the circumstance that brought us together. Having this experience, during Black history month in particular, in the American South of all places, struck me especially. Knowing who you are and where you come from is so critical to informing who you are as a person.
Realizing similar qualities in character, carriage of oneself, how much you will and will not tolerate from others, all of this can be looped back around to who you come from. I understand that as a child, family can seem inconsequential. Being an only child who lived across the country from the rest of my family, I counted friends as more important. Now that I'm an "adult" however, I realize how important it is to not only have friends to support you but relatives close to lift you up and love on you as well. Surrounding yourself with those who care for and about you is so necessary while surviving the tempestuous times in which we currently live.
Ironically, there are some cultural moments and references that happened, including watching Coco recently, and unironically, watching Vanessa Bryant’s eulogy of her husband Kobe and daughter Gianna, only further reiterated this for me. Even to the point of tears. The Bryant’s were clearly a tightknit family and losing even one member would be tragic enough. Losing two at the same time, especially with the impact of one and the youth of another, is simply unimaginable. Mrs. Bryant's fortitude and ability to walk tall through such a harrowing experience only shows how resilient she is and how much she is loved. Taking a lighter turn in Coco, for those who may not have watched, family over all is heavily stressed in the animated film. While you might assume it’s just for kids, the overarching themes are much more widely applicable. And while not all family is always going to come around to the more radical ideas you have for yourself, or support you even if they don’t agree with you, it’s worth the effort to attempt an understanding.
In closing, I'll leave you with this quote I ran across on Instagram earlier this week:
Whether it be the family you were born into or your chosen family, staying connected and having someone/s who can reel you back in when you're spinning out is not only important but can be inspirational in helping you move forward. You were made to excel and do great work. So go forth and do it.
xx
Realizing similar qualities in character, carriage of oneself, how much you will and will not tolerate from others, all of this can be looped back around to who you come from. I understand that as a child, family can seem inconsequential. Being an only child who lived across the country from the rest of my family, I counted friends as more important. Now that I'm an "adult" however, I realize how important it is to not only have friends to support you but relatives close to lift you up and love on you as well. Surrounding yourself with those who care for and about you is so necessary while surviving the tempestuous times in which we currently live.
 |
| Vanessa Bryant delivering an emotional eulogy |
Ironically, there are some cultural moments and references that happened, including watching Coco recently, and unironically, watching Vanessa Bryant’s eulogy of her husband Kobe and daughter Gianna, only further reiterated this for me. Even to the point of tears. The Bryant’s were clearly a tightknit family and losing even one member would be tragic enough. Losing two at the same time, especially with the impact of one and the youth of another, is simply unimaginable. Mrs. Bryant's fortitude and ability to walk tall through such a harrowing experience only shows how resilient she is and how much she is loved. Taking a lighter turn in Coco, for those who may not have watched, family over all is heavily stressed in the animated film. While you might assume it’s just for kids, the overarching themes are much more widely applicable. And while not all family is always going to come around to the more radical ideas you have for yourself, or support you even if they don’t agree with you, it’s worth the effort to attempt an understanding.
 |
| Coco, 2017 |
In closing, I'll leave you with this quote I ran across on Instagram earlier this week:
 |
| (From @solomon.m.kassa via Instagram) |
Whether it be the family you were born into or your chosen family, staying connected and having someone/s who can reel you back in when you're spinning out is not only important but can be inspirational in helping you move forward. You were made to excel and do great work. So go forth and do it.
xx
Comments
Post a Comment