🩸 vs 💦
AS a child I heard the phrase “ blood is thicker than water” hundreds of times. This quote was often used when I wanted to do something with my friends that my mother or relative thought was not as important as I thought it was. The literal meaning of the phrase makes plenty of sense . Blood in the liquid form is thicker than water. The next part is referring to this comparison to family and friends. From my personal experience this phrase could be applied and fits the situation and in other situations it does not fit. Based on our experiences this phrase could be validated and or voided.
I grew up in two different yet supportive family structures. My Father’s side of the family were hard working southern folk. Most of my cousins had the luxury of both parents and owned homes and had respectable jobs and careers. Everyone seemed to have a car and had enough money to get by. When I spent time in North Carolina all the kids went to church on Sunday’s and ate together as a family around the same time every night. It was rare that the kids would be doing something different during those times. We also did our share of kid stuff and broke many rules and suffered consequences that we laugh about now as adults when we reminisce.
My mother’s side of the family was filled with women. Most of the children grew up in single family homes in apartments. As young children most of us bounced around with our aunts and grandmother in order for our parents to work. Mount Vernon New York is much different than North Carolina. Most of my family members live in the projects. When I was a kid I only recall my mother and two other uncles or aunts who owned a car. Public transportation or foot patrol was how we moved around. We had the dopest holiday dinners and game nights at my grandmother’s house. It was not until I was in high school and lived in Greenwich Ct that I realized that the projects were dangerous and most people lived there because they had no other affordable options.
As a young adult I tried to stay close to my family on both sides. As I invested into my career and my own personal journey I lost touch with people from my family. There are still cousins I am close to. However there are still relatives that I am close with. However, many of my childhood relationships with family have grown apart.
Blood could indeed be thicker than water in the non-literal sense. It is my opinion that friends and family could be classified on the same level on many occasions. Just because someone is a family member does not mean they are someone you truly trust and want around. I know at times I kept family members in my circle because I felt obligated to do so. I love my family and will be devastated if something happens to anyone I am related to. I just have a path in life and everyone including family is not a part of this journey for many reasons, non needing to be explained. We do not choose our family and in many cases we only get to choose a portion of our friends based on our geographic location. WE do have choices of who we decide to spend time with. My advice is to know when to keep someone in your circle and know when to let go of people’s: friends or family. Blood is thicker than water, however water is needed to survive.
