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As life goes on you may have found yourself out of contact with extended family members. As I’ve transitioned into an adult and began leading a life of my own with more independence, the responsibility of forming relationships or continuing contact with family is up to me. 

The apprehension

I often feel quite apprehensive before reaching out or catching up with a family member I have not seen in living memory. I worry that we won’t have anything in common and an awkward silence will fill the room. Will we have serious opposing views? Will we struggle to find tings to talk about and connect over?  Other than the trunk we share on the family tree, why would we want to see each other? It is sometimes thoughts like this that can hold me back and cause me to hesitate before wanting to see extended family that I have not got to know as an adult. However, it is the values, opinions and ideals that I now hold that have shaped and continue to shape me as an independent adult. Perhaps I should try to find more excitement in sharing the person I am with family than apprehension.  

Reaching out

Although the fear and hesitation are still there, it instantly evaporates when I make the effort. I have found that just a text or a call can help me connect and brighten not only my day but that of my family member’s. I think that it is just human nature to want to connect and share and that having these connections through blood makes it possible and so much easier. So, this week I think I will try to continue contacting a few forgotten family members to check in on what is going on in their life and see how they are.