Conversations with Family

Life is always worth living. But some days are more worth living than others, and I’ve recently realized that most of those days coincide with when I talk to my family.

I could be having the usual day in the life (neither bad nor exciting), see a call from a family member, pick it up, and suddenly the day turns into the best day of my life.

I’m deeply grateful for my family. And when I say family, I don’t mean just my nuclear family; I mean my extended family, too. Actually, this reflection is about them.

You see, I believe (like most people) that parents owe you affection and care because, well, you didn’t pop out by yourself, no? But with extended family—uncles and aunts—I’ve always felt they don’t really owe you anything. You take what they give, and if they don’t, you move on without a fuss. However, my aunts and uncles apparently didn’t get that memo. They love freely and consistently, and honestly, they are some of the best things that have ever happened to me.

I’ve been lucky enough to spend hours on the phone, gisting with my uncles and aunts and every conversation with them is an attempt to know me better, and a reminder that miles apart they care and I’m not alone.

I remember the last conversation I had with my uncle, which now serves as my gentle reminder to call him again soon. He asked, “Do you really want to sleep, or should we continue talking? Tell me about the latest movie you’re watching.” Meanwhile, his wife and kids in the background were like, “Say no, so you can go to bed.” Well, we ended up speaking for over two hours about almost everything under the sun.

As I write this, I’m glowing with contentment, grateful for this beautiful life I have with these wonderful people—to be known, remembered, and included in their circle of concern and affection. I honestly don’t know who I’d be without them.

I haven’t seen many of them in years, but shout-out to the telephone. Distance hasn’t taken their voices from me, and even when I cannot hear them, I feel the warmth of their love.