Create Your Own Family

I believe a family is created and maintained; family is not just based on DNA. I believe

that I have created the most respectful, encouraging, and peaceful family. Like many children I

grew up in a war zone. There were hardly any moments of peace, and if there were moments,

they were very short lived. My blood family never trust each other, because there is no respect,

no positivity, and no consistency. However, now that I am twenty years old and no longer live at

home, I have had the most amazing opportunity to create my own family. The family I have now

are not blood related to me in any way shape or form. However, to me, they will forever be my

family.

Last year I was in a horrible place in life. I had friends that encouraged self-destructive

behaviors, I was in a relationship where my life was constantly put at risk, and my blood family

had little to no contact with me. I didn’t know that I could have relationships with people that

were trustworthy. After nineteen years of chaos and wars I had finally reached a breaking point.

My life started to crumble, and I fell into a very dark place where I had reached rock bottom. The

best thing about hitting rock bottom is there is only one place to go… up. I started cutting out the

people who were causing the most harm. I learned to create boundaries and found joy in my own

presence. I had to unlearn everything I had been taught my whole life. As soon as I came to a

healthy version of myself, I was able to rebuild relationships.

I started to find people who believe that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness. I

found friends that have done nothing but encourage me and support me. I had the privilege to

learn how to treat other people and myself. I found a small group of people with all different

looks, beliefs, sizes, hobbies, passions, and histories. However, we all actively trust, respect, and

love one another.

 Thanks to the growth and the support of my newly built family I have been able to pick

myself up and create a messy masterpiece of my life. I would not be where I am today without

the people, I have in my life now. I make sure that every single day I am putting in the energy to

maintain and cherish the family I have built. As a result of my friends, I truly believe that people

do not need to share DNA to be considered family.