So who are those strange people who you are forced to share a house with when you are young? Is it a random selection of people grouped with different personalities, different values, and different views in life. Or is there a plan, a conscious decision, a careful selection?
There is no guarantee you will get along, there isn't any rule that says you even have to stay in touch when you're grown up.
I believe one has to fill your life with people who bring out the best in you, who supports you and motivate you to live out your potential. If a family member happens to be this person, it is a good idea to keep them in your life.
Sometimes, family reminds you of who you were, but you want the chance to change who you are. Sometimes family does not allow you to grow, they expect the same behaviour you always had and it makes it so much harder to leave your old self behind.
You grow every day, you learn new skills, and you start behaving differently to what you would in the past. If you start from scratch with no one to remind you of who you were, it is so much easier to re-invent yourself.
But is it really re-invention, or is it just living out your potential you've always had? Is it not allowing yourself to be who you were supposed to be, the person you didn't allow yourself to be in the environment you grew up because you had to accommodate the rest of the family. You gave up on your own beliefs about yourself, your abilities, your dreams.
Then you create a new family of your own. You settle down with a chosen family. If you are not careful you can fall into the same trap again, of being what others want you to be, and not living out your dreams.
First seek out your dreams, plan your goals, get support, and just do it!
"Friends are family we chose for ourselves." But sometimes, if we are lucky, we chose our family to be our friends.
