Family Support

There Is No Bond Stronger

/ markmkane / Leave a comment

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As I was growing up, I never really got the full grasp of what it was like to rely on family members for support; especially that of the emotional kind. 

 I was always off on my own, or with my friends, involved in insects, cartoons, action figures, video games, comics or remote control vehicles of the fast kind. 

 When I wasn’t squeezing every ounce of free time for my personal pleasure, my head was preoccupied with school.  So as you can tell, it was either trying to finish that super complex homework, study for zillions of quizzes and tests or what to do first when I had free time; those thoughts took up most of my emotional journeys.

 Nothing major happened to the point where I needed to consult my parents or siblings for advice.  A lot of my life’s lessons came either from trial and error, mostly HUGE ones, or talking with friends.  Life was simple, there were no worries.

If it didn’t involve school or play (or girls) then it completely fell to the wayside.  That, however, took a different turn as I got up there in age and started a family of my own.

 My focus adjusted and my eyes began to really “see” the value of having family around you.  I could have a bad day at work, a traumatic incident, health issues or just feeling down in the dumps, but just knowing that my family was there made the trials all the more bearable.

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 My wife and my kids provided emotional support in ways that inspired hope in me.  Just having someone in my corner, through thick and thin, really made all the difference in overcoming the obstacles that were in my path.  Their positive words of encouragement, daily affirmations and big burly hugs made all the difference; they truly became my emotional cheerleaders. 

 My outlook towards my parents were in a state of flux as well; it changed from seeing them as an authoritative figure to that of sage-like confidants that I can pour my heart out to. 

 It’s interesting how time really changes you and strange that it took me this long to value the bonds we share with our family.  I might have grown up slightly different from others but at least I can say that I finally learned how strong family bonds can be.

A Spark Of Hope

/ markmkane / Leave a comment

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Ever have one of those days when things just don’t seem to go your way or situations pop up that test your limits?  We’re all faced with that time and time again; believe me, I’ve had my share ten times over and then some.  There are other that have it even worse. 

 What I’m most curious about is how others cope with their personal struggles.  How do they keep positive in light of all the bad things that are happening to them?  What gives them the drive to face their dilemma head on and never give up?

 When problems arise in my life, my “doom and gloom meter” starts to rise and my mind starts to go into overdrive about all the things I could’ve done to avoid this mess.  My outlook starts to look depressingly hopeless and my daily routines are all out of whack.

 I start to do normal things on auto-pilot all the while racking my brain on how to solve my problems or obstacles so that I can get back on track and live normally again. 

 When this happens, I start to get into a funk and feel like “Why does this always happen to me and when will it all end!  Can’t I just get a break?!”  Just when I see there is no solution to my turbulent mess, “a spark of hope” appears out of nowhere.

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 For me, that can come in the form of my dog greeting me at Mach speed with unconditional love and adoration.  A big bear hug from my wife. It can even come from watching my kids simply do their homework or observing family members go about their daily routine.  It’s amazing how something so small and mundane can make a difference.

 Just the mere sight of them snaps me out of my much misaligned chaotic demeanor.  It’s weird but seeing something like that, just soaking in those positive things gives me hope. Remembering all the good times and feeling so blessed to have a family like mine helps a lot; knowing that I overcame previous predicaments helps in the process.  Maybe subconsciously I know that I have their undying love and support in my corner and I know I’m not facing my predicaments alone.  

 Can’t really explain it; I get a renewed sense of energy and endless possibilities about my life explode in my head…AND it’s all good.  It feels as if nothing in the world can stop me from accomplishing anything and everything! 

It’s funny how something so simple can become a beacon of unbridled optimism.  Life doesn’t appear so bleak and I’m enthusiastically anticipating what’s in store for me in an hour, a day, a week or months from now.  I begin to envision a more desirable and successful future for myself which might or might not happen.  Who cares?!

 My “spark of hope” is all that matters in driving my life forward.  As long as I have that grain of reverie then everything is fine.

 I can’t fathom how this process works but I’m just truly grateful that this “spark of hope” can do wonders for me.  I just pray that this sparkle continues to light all of the dark and hard times that I’ll encounter in my life.

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