16 May The Joy of a Supportive Family
Going through this process has shown me the immense value of a supportive family. We’ve always been there for each other, but my recent legal perils and the subsequent challenges have highlighted the type of unconditional love my family provides.
Here is a picture I took of my parents when we went out for dinner after a week of hard work preparing my house for rent, organizing and packing away material possessions, and dealing with the daily emotional struggles of our life changes. It is hard, really hard, but we’re still finding joy in life and the time we get to spend together.
I read an article several years ago that spoke about how anyone over the age of 18 has likely already spent 90 plus percent of the time they will spend with their parents. It’s shocking, but when you think about how much time you are with your parents from the ages of 0-18 (pending divorce, deaths, etc.) compared to seeing family for the occasional holidays as an adult, you quickly realize this to be the case. Much like someone reporting for Prison counts down the days of freedom they have left, one should also be aware of the time they have left with loved ones.
I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone, but my reality is that I am now going through it, and I need to find the good where I can. One of those positives is how much more time I am spending with family. We all wish we could have chosen to spend more time together under our own volition, but my current circumstances have thrust it upon us, and we are admittedly enjoying it. I’m playing chess with my father, and we are going for walks in the foothills near my home. My mother and I are becoming quite the handyman team tackling all manner of projects. She also has quite the skillset when it comes to organization and packing. Family dinners are a thing once again as well.
Preparing for a prison sentence takes a team, and even with an extensive team (family, friends, attorneys, etc.), it is a struggle. Remember to lean on and appreciate those who you love. They want to be here for you now, and hopefully, if you treat them right, they will be there for you when you get out. So step away from the stress, going for a walk on a warm spring night, and take your mom out for tacos like we did last night.
