As I spent time with my family this weekend for Easter, I was quickly flooded with distant memories that I thought were stored somewhere in my subconscious. Specifically, memories where your family sits down in the living room and starts replaying old family stories which you quickly remember like it was yesterday. For me, it was like looking at a blank canvas which someone later decided to splash all kinds of colors on it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful thing to share something so intimate and it’s even more special when it’s with your family.

As a child, it was very easy for me to grow up with only my sibling and my mom since we moved to the United States when we were all very young. My mom ensured that even though we were oceans away from those we loved the most, they still were very present in our lives. I always wonder what it would have been like to have my family just a drive away. All of those memories you would be able to create and share together. In school, many of my friends would always complain about attending these events with their families or seeing their grandparents. I understand that many people say that the circumstances are different for many, but why do we choose to condemn spending time with our families?

Now that I am older, I realize how special these moments can really be, I try and take advantage of every time my family flies in. Especially now since we all live in different places and the chances of us being in the same place at the same time is highly unlikely. Now that I am older, I really appreciate the wisdom of my mother/grandparents and what those who are older than me have to say. When thinking about it, hitting milestones feels like being re-introduced into this world, being reborn again, and learning how to do new and different things.

Whenever I am with my family, I try and learn from their childhoods. I really appreciate the memories we have created along the way. Since my family has always been overseas, I’ve never had those moments where I wish I didn’t have to visit them. For me, it’s always been the complete opposite. I’ve always been excited to see my family, especially my grandparents so I can ask them millions of questions and share laughs with them.

Our families are the perfect people whom we can learn from and really prepare ourselves for the real world. They are the ones who will not sugar coat things and will tell you the harsh reality of it all. Not only that, they will be the ones who will give you the most beautiful memories from your childhood like “Remember that time you were sick when you were nine, and I made you some herbal tea and you spit it back out." These are the things that you normally wouldn’t remember. Really cherish these moments with your families because one day you won’t have the opportunity to do so.