Family

Like everything else in our life, having a family comes with great expectations, and great responsibility. There are people that belong to you, people that hold your life and thoughts and opinions very dear. You can't be callous with them, and you can't be blase about how you interact with them. Whether given to you at birth or chosen by you during the span of your life, these people are your responsibility, so you have some to them as well:

Be truthful...not in the case of how's my hair look, or crap like that, but the big stuff. No matter how much it might hurt or seem to damage your relationship, it's best in the long run.

Be considerate...pay attention to them, and make an effort to be what they need. Ask questions, call often, visit as much as possible. Go to lunch with them, bring them flowers when their week is bad...show you love them rather than tell them.

Laughter...you cannot forget to make them laugh. You want to bring a smile to those that you love, especially when the days are tough and long. Go out of your way to make them smile, even if you have to make an ass of yourself to do it.

Dependable...that's what you have to be with family. You get a call at two a.m. from your sister because she and her husband had a fight? Give yourself a slap, pretend you don't have that eight o'clock final, and talk. Even if it takes hours or is a huge inconvenience...you be there for your family.

Worthiness....you have to be a good family member to deserve a good one. You can't treat them like shit and hope they continue to love you and treat you like they do. They might for a while, but patience runs out eventually, and you can find yourself alone.

And love...that's the biggest responsibility you have toward your family. You love them through the good and the bad, the sick and the healthy, the sunshine and the rain. You love them every minute of everyday, and you never, EVER forget to let them know that you love them. You can show it in actions, but never underestimate the power of the simple words. Hearing that can make so much else seem insignificant.

That's what you do for your family...you love them, and you show them, and you do your damnedest not to disappoint them. And when you do, because at some point you will, you do everything you can to make up for it, and let them know that through it all...you still love them.

That's the most important thing about family, after all. Unconditional, unswerving love.