“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” Jane Howard

Since losing my dad in June this year, I’ve spent a lot more time with my family than I usually would’ve done. And to be fair, I’m very family orientated, so I tend to spend a lot of time with them anyway. Covid, of course, put paid to that in many ways. I was lucky enough to bubble with my sister and her family, and I’m deeply grateful for that. It seems there is an immense amounts to organise after someone passes away. And as a family, we have all in different ways.

I’m very glad that i’m close to my ‘blood’ family, my mum, brother, sister, son, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I know many people who either can’t or don’t want to be with their blood family, for whatever reason. But the quote above put it nicely for me, that family can be whatever connections you choose it to be. But whatever it is that you choose, we are wired for family.

I’m not saying that being part of a family is easy, but you get out of life what you put in, and the quote below sums it up nicely, I think.

“In truth a family is what you make it. It is made strong, not by number of heads counted at the dinner table, but by the rituals you help family members create, by the memories you share, by the commitment of time, caring and love you show to one another, and by the hopes for the future you have as individuals and as a unit.” Marge Kennedy

Give a shout out to your family in the comments below, let them know how much they mean to you.

© Sue Palmer, The Horse Physio, 2021

Treating your horse with care, connection, curiosity and compassion