Blood, DNA and biology do not create a family- that makes you related. Love, empathy, compassion and sincerity make a family. Just because you share blood with someone does not mean they always have your best interest at heart or will love you unconditionally, but people who proof it every day and who love you through everything- those people are your family. Water may be thinner than blood, but love is what trumps it all.

So to my nonbiological family, I thank you. You've loved me, you've been there for me, you've supported me and I could never begin to repay you. The feeling of togetherness I feel when we are together or the sense of victory I feel when I realize I've found my people, that's what family is and I would never trade it for the world. The laughs, the memories, the good stories and the genuineness is amazing.

You should NEVER feel obligated to surround yourself with toxic family members that make you feel less than every spectacular thing that you are, that is not what family does. You deserve to surround yourself with people who lift you up off the ground every single time you fall and people who love you when you find it hard to love yourself, that's a family and you should never ever forget that.

To love someone unconditionally is a big term and that means you love someone even when you don't, and you love them even if you don't like them in that exact moment. But you remember who you are and who they are and you remember that you are someone who loves and who loves big, so let that be your superpower. Let yourself accept the love you deserve and not the love you are given, let yourself have your army because everyone needs things to fall back on no matter how strong you are. Let yourself knows that blood doesn't define your family, and if someone makes you feel small you do not have to sit around and take it just because you share some DNA. You are bigger than that, so much bigger.

I am grateful and thank the forces bigger than us every day for giving me the family I have and I will truly feel blessed for the rest of my life. So to my nonbiological sister, father, brother, grandparents, aunt, cousin... you all shifted my world. Thank you.