Well, I believe everyone out there knows exactly how to define or describe a family, at least literally.  Some do great as well in putting an emotional definition.  What I think is that “family” is really tough to define, and great to live and feel.  Here is a list of how I would define family by feelings in my own words:

• Family is what breaks your loneliness… and makes you unable to imagine yourself alone anymore!
• Family is something that you escape to, and not from!
• Family allows you to experience joy from the bottom of your heart.
• Family makes you ask more often – “should I live my own life, or rather give it to those who I love?!”
• Family makes you feel willing to spend very relaxing and unproductive times with those you love (well family again!)
• Family makes you cry while being happy! (have you tried fixing a blanket for your kid in bed at night?)
• Family makes you concerned and alerted, and yet willing to try these feelings again and again!
• Family makes you miss the good and bad times with your loved ones very equally.
• Family lets you experience “sense of purpose” beyond your imagination.
• Family is something that tickles your heart when you’re alone, and that’s how it calls you to come back!
• Family is something you always put forward, makes you biased against all the things in your life, and yet you believe you’re still being unfair to!
• Family sometimes frustrates you, but heels you in seconds afterwards to a degree that you think you haven’t felt that frustration ever!
• Family makes you social by practice (have you tried to be alone after getting used to your family?)
• Family makes you experience “unconditional love” … truly!
• Family unlocks what’s inside you – the good and bad – and makes you comfortable with the results no matter what!

That’s how I would define (or actually feel) what family means.  I would like thank God for giving me a great mother, a great father, great sisters and brothers.  I also would like to thank God for allowing me to experience a closer circle of family by knowing Afaf and having two lovely kids from her.

If you would like to contribute a definition-by-feeling to what family really means, then please add yours in the comments below.