Otters watching the world go by in the London zoo a few years back. When I was choosing this image, the only title I saw for it is, family. The main character on the branch looks like the ever aware father looking after his family. The otter nearest the water reminds me of an impatient child raring to go. The one in the left like the mother trying to get the last child to get on with it, and of course the last little otter just off shot the youngest child dragging it’s heals.
I have asked you before this question, who is your family?
How would you describe the roles of your family members?
Did everyone have a role?
Did you feel recognised and validated in your family?
Did you portray a perfect family when in public?
Were you ever told to “not wash your laundry” in public?
Did you have to keep secrets for your family?
Do you even have contact with your family?
Do you have a family of our own? What is your role in your new family?
Do you feel validated in this new family?
Family can be anyone we chose. Of course we have a biological tie with someone that provided us with the genetic material to exist and all the descendants that are then linked to us via DNA, but are they our family? Those people with a DNA link to us, are they really our support network? The saying also goes “blood is thicker than water”, but then again our biggest hurst may come from those we call DNA family.
Just because someone is linked through DNA to you, do you have to be loyal to them?
Were you allowed to deviate from the “family rules”?
Were you allowed to be different?
Were you pushed to succeed beyond the limitations of your family?
Did they cheer for you when you did succeed?
The topic of family is a touchy subject for many people in this world, and yet family is meant to be the network that we come “home” to, the unit that is meant to sustain us when we are down.
So I ask you again, who is your real family? DNA? Or those you chose outside that circle?
In my image, it was just a group of otters, whether they are related or not, I do not know, my interpretation it is just that, an interpretation, the reality may well be very different. The answers are within.
As always join in the conversation in a comment, or journal your thoughts. We are ready to evolve, join us on the journey of discovery.
