Meet my family

Good Monday morning! On this Family Day here in Alberta, I thought I'd introduce you to my 'family'. Of course, I have my siblings, their spouses and their children. I have Aunts, Uncles and cousins, each of whom I'm grateful for. Unfortunately, both of my brothers and my two sisters live out of town. We speak on the phone regularly, but because they don't live here, I obviously don't get to see them very often.

I love them dearly. Our parents have long since passed, so they are even more important to me today than they were when we were young.

Just as important to me today is my......'other' family. These are the people in my everyday life. They include my 'pretend' brother Danny Hooper, my radio family, radio listeners, girlfriends, guy friends, people I do business with, people I sit on boards with, and people I'll soon be volunteering with. Some are former in-laws who've shown incredible kindness. Many I've met through the sale of my book 'The Gift of Adultery'.

A good many of these people sat at my side, and took my phone calls when I was in the darkest place in my life. They are like 'gold' to me. Some cheer me on when I tell them of a new lesson I've learned in the 'school' of life. Others are quick to offer support when they see I need it.

No one, and I mean NO ONE is harder on me than I am, so I don't need people in my life who judge me; they've been weeded out.

People don't have to be related in order to be 'family'. In fact, sometimes friends treat each other better and with more kindness and understanding than family! I've been guilty of that very thing myself, so I know of what I speak.

Today, as the province celebrates Family Day, I'm thinking about both my 'real family' and my huge, 'extended family'. All of them, in their own unique way brings something special to my life.