There are many things in life that could separate you from your family. Sometimes it’s a career, school, or the mere desire to travel. When you’re far away from home, your perspective on the world changes drastically. You will certainly feel some loneliness, and there will be times when you will need to re-examine the true meaning of the term “family”. Yet wherever you go, take comfort in the knowledge that a part your family’s spirit will always be inside of you. Such comforts help you truly understand certain things about your family, even when you live far away from them.
1. You start thinking independently
A family is like a pillar: They provide the emotional and spiritual support that you need to become a better person. But when you take away that support network, you start seeing things from an independent perspective and begin tending to your affairs by yourself.
2. You become left out of family affairs
Whether it was your sibling getting married or your parents’ anniversary, you lose track of important events within your family. Perhaps you can catch up with your mother on her sixtieth birthday on Facebook or Twitter. However, you still miss the joy of being with your family when they attend a major event.
3. You use your vacation time to go visit them
While others consider a vacation as spending time away from their family, you treat vacation as spending time with your family. And yet, your vacations always feel a little incomplete, because there never seems to be enough time to spend with your family and enjoy it for yourself as well.
4. You can typically adapt even when your family is not close by
You start adapting and making yourself comfortable in new environments. You see yourself as citizen of the world and feel you can survive anywhere without your family. You are independent, bold, and strong wherever you are.
5. You sometimes get homesick
Everyone has their own definition of what homesickness means. However, where your family lives could still be where you consider home. You miss the food, the laughter, and the ambiance, and you really want to be with your loved ones again. Sometimes you really have to make the sacrifice of restraining that feeling for a while.
6. You understand and appreciate the meaning of the term “family”
You understand what family means. You miss the support and affection that comforted you when you were with them. You treasure the memories and pleasant moments that you experienced with them. When you meet people that reflect the personalities of your family, you appreciate those people more.
7. You doubt your choices sometimes
You analyze your life and wonder if you actually made the right decision to move so far away from your family. You start to see this as a new phase of your life, and realize you need become adjusted to being on your own and taking on challenges without your family around.
8. You start understanding the difference between people and places
You realize that family is about the people, not the place. You try to stay in touch and communicate with them as much as you can. The truth is that the place will never matter as much as being with your family or reaching out to them every now and then.
9. You have an evolving relationship with your family
If you were with your family all of the time, your relationship with them would never grow. Somehow when you separate yourself from the other members of your family, your relationship with them evolves and take on a new shape. Sometimes your parents will treat you like a close friend or a sibling rather than the child you were.
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