The Power of Family

I am currently at a potential crossroads in my life, which has caused me to do a lot of thinking about the future and what it is I want with my life. I am the kind of person who does a lot of self-analysis, especially as of late. This weekend I was thinking about when have I been the happiest in my life and when I have felt the most fulfilled, which led me to a kind of obvious but powerful realization. The biggest key component to all of my achievements and happiness has ALWAYS been my family.

Now when I say my family I am not solely referring to my blood family, but rather all the people in my life that I have adopted as my “family.” Don’t get me wrong, God has blessed me with amazing parents and they blessed me with some of the best brothers and sisters anyone could ask for. This family really helped start me off on the right track in life and continues to be one of my biggest support systems. When I think of my childhood accomplishments, one or all of my family members played a key role in helping me achieve them.

As we go through life our “family” continues to grow and I realized the reason I have always been happy and continue to succeed in my endeavors is because of the people I have added into my family. This has included my friends, teammates, clients, professors, co-workers and so on. Whether I’ve been surrounded by the cornfields in Iowa or looking out on the skyline of New York City I have added the most tremendous people to my “family.”

I believe that I have been blessed and there is a component of good fortune, but I am also starting to think that surrounding yourself with the right people is a developed skill like anything else. It takes practice and is something one can develop once they become aware of their “family” and the influence it has on them.

There is nothing more powerful then constantly having positive influences in your life. A strong family makes you so much more than you could ever be on your own. They see your potential and push you to strive for your dreams without fear because you know you won’t ever fall to far with them at your back. They make your successes more blissful and your hardships more bearable. My family empowers me, they make me want to be a better man, and they are why I am and will continue to be a happy man.