One Ginormous Family

Humanists recognize that we are all humans. Regardless of our differences. And that our common humanity matters.

Happy New Year. I don’t normally suggest resolutions for people. I tend to think that we should be changing our behavior as needed all year long. Regardless, I do have one suggestion for a resolution that  I think it would help you to adopt.

Resolve to remember that we are all one big ginormous family. You are genetically related to all the other humans, plans and animals on the planet. You are created out of the same building blocks that make up our universe.

Just like any family, there may be times when we don’t get along. However, ultimately, we do share a home with all the other life on earth and we would be wise to make the best of it and not tear down our house in an attempt to control everyone else.  After all, if we tear down our house out of spite, we will be left with nowhere to live and that would be incredibly short sited.

So, whether your current cause of angst is politics, interpersonal relationships or ecological, always remember, we are all part of one ginormous family and we owe it to ourselves to make an effort to get along.

Have you reached out to others beyond your comfort zone lately? How did it go?

Gratitude

This is thanksgiving week. Most of us will be on our way to spend time with our families. Some of us might be looking forward to it, others, might be viewing the pending holiday with some trepidation.

Regardless of how you are feeling, consider this; a common death bed wish is that people wish they would have spent more time with their family. We all get caught up in our day to day lives. It is easy to forget that it is our relationships with others that give our lives meaning. 

We all have obligations. Some is to work, some is to our friends and some is to family and some is to ourselves.  It is whether we find a way to balance those obligations well and give ample time to our family, which will define how successful and happy we feel.

Yes, family can be annoying. But they are often a closer bond to us than any other. Which is why we are so adept at prioritizing them lower than we probably should. Family will be there regardless.  Don’t take your family for granted. For better or for worse, be grateful you had them. Not everyone is so lucky. 

My Happiness Project

Finding balance between work
and family is the key to finding
happiness.

I was talking to a friend the other day about balancing work and life. We are both self-employed stay at home moms. A big part of the reason we choose this path for ourselves is so that we can have more time with our families. We are also both encouraging our husbands to make similar choices.

Why? Because money isn’t everything.  We need enough money to live off of, but we would rather not accumulate money at the expense of quality family time.  Why?  Because I married my husband because I actually like spending time with him. I like spending time with my son too.  Excessive work gets in the way of that sometimes.

We both realized we are embarking on a personal happiness project. Our goal is to find a balance between work and family that works for us. I don’t want to have it all. I want a little of everything and that requires me to make choices that will help me realize the balance I seek.

And yes, it does mean I’m not looking to make a 6 or 7 figure salary. Mid to high 5 figures is fine with me and much more realistic a goal anyway. As long as my chosen career affords me the time I want to spend with my family – I’ll be happy.


Image: "Businessman Thinking" by 89studio FreeDigitalPhotos.net