Valuing Relationships

Part V
Relationship with Family
“I just can’t stand my family,” is a familiar
phrase people use. I agree that at times the
behavior of some family members is a lot to endure,
and can sometimes get on our last, good, nerve. But
as difficult as this may be, we have no choice but to
love them. For according to author Ernest Lacey,
families are forever.
Family members are the people who remind us
about what’s important in our lives. For example, our
children are often the reason we work as hard as we
do, that give us the motivation behind our
determination to bypass hurdles, or overcome
challenges and struggles in our careers and
professional lives. Our parents and siblings are
often the people with whom we grew up. They know
us from birth, and often we want to make them
proud. Dr. John Sharry, social worker and
psychotherapist, shares that, the more closely we
are connected to the people we love, the happier we
feel and the more personal satisfaction we have in
our lives. Most people rate moments of connection
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