Keeper

     On the other side of the country is my family-- a group of people I can call home.  Although they may be scattered about in the east, I cannot deny the fact that they have shaped me into the person who I am.

     Of course, in that family are siblings-- brothers or sisters, we all love, despise or even neglect for five years or more.  They're there, whether we like them or not, and society revolves around how we put them in the grand equation that amounds to our life.

     Recently, through social media, I had stumbled upon mine own sibling for the first time in a year.  It's been some time now since I've physically seen him in person and even longer since I've actually talked to him.  It may be that over a year ago I've changed a lot or he has, or both, but it was appalling some of the things I saw him post.  I know he's a better person that what he shares.  The contrast between where our lives have gone is quite interesting.

     So in a nutshell, I am one of two kids-- one who is around 11... years minutes "older" than I am.  I don't really understand/know why without putting me to blame, but that fraternal relationship has been nonexistent for the longest time.  Eight years of estrangement can take its toll on the human psyche.

     We've all been given a charge to love our brother's keeper.  My message here is to all who have broken or rusted bonds with siblings or relatives in any form you want to connect with again.  When you're estranged, it's extremely frightening to reconnect, even if you really want to.  The thought of further rejection, waywardness, and hostility makes us quake.

     So the first step to overcoming our demons and repairing these bonds come from being receptive.  Showing that desire to want to reconnect is the first big step to reparation.  It can be something like a pact to yourself that you won't hold any more ill will toward your estranged relative or even a message to the world that your doors of acceptance is now open.  At this part, perhaps your estranged relative wants to accept your offer of benevolence-- great!  Be receptive and kindly when they initiate the conversation!

     That's the easy part.  The real threshold that has to be crossed with the majority of us is that of taking action.  More likely than not, the other party may be thinking that you'll be the one who reaches them rather than vice versa.  It takes a real human being to go out and look for the person to make amends with!  A small private message on facebook, a twitter mention, or even a piece of correspondence (if you know his or her address) never hurt anyone!  Be proactive, even if it's the scariest thing you'll ever do in the distant future.  The return on investment is great, so far as I've been told.

     This is something I'm doing.  Right now, I'm working on the first part.  I have some time left before I'm able to actually reach out, but I know that we can exemplify the happiness of a strong, cohesive family with a message of reconnection.

     To my own kin, my doors are open, but my mouth cannot until this journey out west is finished.