I had one of the best weekends this summer, even though it was full of hard work. It helps that it was a long weekend. I crossed a long-time goal off my list and I participated in one of my family’s biggest decluttering operations, one that is nowhere near complete. It will be a multi-stage, multi-day project and the rush I feel from giving away things in good condition that our family no longer needs is matchless.

My sister, my youngest brother (Brother #2) and I are such a great team (which is not to say we don’t bicker every single time we hang out together or embark on a project). It’s a shame that my other brother (Brother #1) isn’t part of this fantastic team (we are so awesome) but we’re working on it, constantly letting him know that we want him there with us. It’s funny because as much as we want him to be part of the group we have our moments where we dissect his awful treatment of us and I invariably end up saying “He’s an *expletive*. I’m done with him.” But honestly, I love his guts and can’t wait for him to see the light and realize that we’re cool folks who are on his side and he shouldn’t try to pretend we suck and aren’t good enough to hang out with because he’s so wrong.

In addition to hauling stuff to the Salvation Army, I:

• spent Friday night, most of Saturday, all of Sunday, and all of Monday at my parents’ place
• watched most of Dreamgirls with my sister and Brother #1
• went out for two meals with my sister and Brother #2
• watched Love It or List It with my parents and sister on Monday
• took two approximately three hour naps on Sunday and Monday. In both cases I started out on the couch and ended up in my sister and Brother #1′s beds, respectively

Since I’m in a family kind of mood, I’d like to boldly confess that I need my family. I’m all for independence and not letting someone stop you from doing something if you’re convinced it’s what you want to do, but I will never be the kind of person who is voluntarily distanced from her family (emotionally). I like seeking my family’s opinions on things, even though I know it will end with arguments and conflicting opinions, and even if I know I’ll end up doing something completely different from what some family members may have expected. I love that my parents are caring and involved and didn’t have the mentality that once I turned 18 I was no longer their responsibility. I love our inside jokes, love that no one else will ever get some parts of me like they do. Even though I know we’re dysfunctional, I am thankful that we love each other. I don’t think we’d fight as much if we didn’t: we’d just say “Screw you!” and be apathetic. I am so happy that passive-aggressiveness isn’t par for the course chez nous. And for all this I give my parents full credit.

I am secure in the love of my family, and I can’t imagine us not having this same love. Life is better shared and I know that even if for some reason I end up being single for life, I will always be thankful for the blessing of having a family to share my life with. I look forward to one day having a family of my own, one that won’t be a carbon copy of my family, but I hope it’ll always have that strong undercurrent of genuine love.

Filed under: Family, Goals by jummy