“Born alone, die alone, no crew to keep my crown or throne.”
– Anonymous
A word that beholds in itself, a sense of safety, security, and comfort, ‘family’, what is all the hullabaloo around it? Is it really an important aspect of our lives? Is it imposed upon us by birth or picked through selective choice? What does it even mean in the evolving socio-cultural modern setup of human existence?
From the moment a life transitions from womb to world, it seeks the protective web of emotions and the nurture of love, care, protection, and solace. And the process begins with the blessing of being around people it can count on, and the company of the ones it can love, live, and laugh with! Orchestrated through the complex mechanism of life, the process continues from that momentous event onwards and grows to merriment and beyond. Family is not only about sharing fun moments, but it also counts on the ongoing bond through the test of time. ‘Through thick and thin, there is the assurance of people in life who would stand by our side no matter what.
Families nurture us to be the best version of ourselves, overriding the poison of cynicism and embracing the nectar of hopefulness. For the ones privileged with having a family and yet scoffing at the significance of family in our lives, ask the ones who don’t have it. Family dynamics and the sense of belongingness are essential aspects of the human entity, and to feel that web of security and inclusion, the ones who lack a family by birth tend to create a chosen one.
The very first relationship of a child with parents and siblings sets the stage for future connections. Don’t we observe the family dynamics repeating themselves and reinforcing beliefs about ourselves and the relationships around us? Although not a conscious decision, the tendency to select partners and friends closely similar to our families is a part of our natural instinct. A source of comfort, encouragement, values, morals, faith, understanding, hope, and counsel, a family is throughout life in ebb and flow.
Whether we belong to the tribe of people who prefer sitting on the sidelines and watching the passing show rather than being in the thick of the crowd, or the kind who like being the life of a party, we all like being a part of a clan. Nobody likes to be lonely! The support of near and dear ones to boost our self-esteem in the toughest of situations or the milder setbacks, we need our kinfolk in our journey of life. A home to go back to, no matter how much you stroll out all day long. A sense of security drawn from either a pack of people or a selective handful, it cultivates our mental health and emotional growth.
An unconditional love bound by moral valves, the family bond is unlimited, where we learn most of the good things in life and create ethical standards about love, care, kindness, a helping attitude, a sense of gratitude, and so much more. Quality time with our friends forever by blood, lets us get rid of worries and challenges in life. Beyond the pretence of perfection and the façade of formality, family allows us to express ourselves. The one place where we are what we are, and as close to originality as we can!
Doesn’t life become easier, and the decision-making is simpler when we have folks we can rely on, the ones who would have our backs no matter what? A strong family goes a long way. A haven where we first learn to manage our emotions, communicate with others, interact with people, and realize the consequences, whether positive or negative! Consolidating these life lessons to make them our worldview and the lens through which we see society and the sphere. ‘A healthy family is the backbone of a healthy society. The growth of a society and nation certainly starts with the domino effect that the strength of a family generates. Developing self-worth, treating others well, and finding our purpose in life, all these values are ingrained in us as a foundational aspects of our identities.
With the notion of a family evolving with the changing world, today’s society sees the family in all shapes, sizes, and dynamics. Fluctuating marriage preferences, higher divorce rates, switching attitudes towards the nuclear family setup, or the desire to go back to the roots, no matter what the current scenario is, the core values remain intact with slight modifications to fit the trend. The support system is important and not a critical judgment, keeping in the centre the best interest of one another and togetherness. So, whether akin or affinity, let’s be united by ties and instill family values to align with our own, to strive towards a life of fulfilment and cherish a world that defines us!
“We are born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Everything in between is a gift.”
– Yul Brynner
About the Columnist
An HR-turned-Author, proud winner of ‘Top 50 Indian Icon Awards 2025’, Columnist, TEDx Speaker, Speaker (IITs, IIMs), The Times of India Write India Winner, Jyoti Jha has authored, edited, and translated several books in both English and Hindi. Awarded ‘Vidya Vachaspati’ and ‘Dr Shanti Jain Smriti Samman’, ‘Iconic Authors’, ‘Savitribai Phule Raashtriya Samman’, Judge at IITBHU (Kashiyatra), she has conducted Writing Workshops at IITs and NITs. She is the Chief Coordinator, Let’s Inspire Bihar’s Literary Chapter, and Sr Editor, Today Magazine. Known for her bestselling novella ‘Aanandi’, her writings have been featured and published in international anthologies, prominent media houses, prestigious literary magazines, and journals. Her poem has been appreciated by the Karnataka Sahitya Parishad. To help raise awareness at the very core of a caring society, her latest book, ‘Spectrum and Beyond’, is on autism.
