The joys and sorrows of a family

"Just as a nuclear family consists of a mother, father, brother, and sister, a joint family is formed with grandparents, uncles, aunts, and paternal aunts. No person can live alone without society. Every individual must live as part of a community.

You may wonder why I’m talking about nuclear and joint families. Yes, you guessed it right—today, I’ve come to share a story about a family.

There was a time when the relationships in our family were filled with joy and a unique warmth. But in today’s era, those relationships have changed significantly. Just as there's a clear difference between day and night, misunderstandings and mental distances have altered our family bonds. This is where love begins to differ. The expression of love is vast. Love is not limited to one person—the love of a mother, father, brother, and sister are all different in their own ways.

There was a time when everyone lived together, cooking and eating as one big family. There was so much happiness in those moments. Within the family, there was warmth, affection, and care—none of which were lacking. Everyone looked after one another. The joys of that time were extraordinary. If someone fell ill, another would take responsibility for the household. Some would care for the children. If there was an event or celebration, the joy was boundless. Everyone would stay up together, solving problems as a team. As the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." Everything would fall into place so easily.

But in today’s society, everyone wants to form a nuclear family. That doesn’t necessarily mean there’s more happiness in such a setup. There are also many forms of unrest and disorder. A family doesn’t always experience happiness. Life is a mixture of joy and sorrow. That’s why, after much hardship and effort, the feeling of happiness finally arrives in people’s lives—and for some, it never does. Just as nothing is gained one-sidedly, true joy also doesn’t come from one-sided efforts. Just as the sea is formed from drops of water, enduring pain and suffering eventually draws divine attention.

In any family or household, mutual understanding and joint decision-making between two people determine happiness. Both must pay attention to the family—it's not enough for just one to do so. Otherwise, chaos follows. I believe that living together as in earlier times, in a joint family, brings a kind of joy that can’t be found elsewhere. In such a family, a child learns many things from grandparents, uncles, and aunts. A child raised in such an environment is more likely to build a similar family for the next generation. Today’s child is the future of tomorrow. The behavior we show today will influence how they behave with their next generation.

That’s why we should consider all aspects of building a family and develop good relationships with everyone—to create an ideal family. A truly ideal family is not just a group of individuals living under one roof, but a place where love, respect, understanding, and support flow freely. It is a foundation built on shared responsibilities, open communication, and emotional connection.

In such a family, every member—young or old—feels heard, valued, and safe. Differences of opinion are handled with patience rather than conflict. Decisions are made collectively, and success or failure is embraced as a shared experience. Children learn not only academic knowledge but also important life lessons like empathy, kindness, discipline, and cooperation by observing the behavior of adults around them.

In today’s fast-paced world, we often forget the importance of nurturing family bonds. Career pressures, individual goals, and digital distractions can easily lead to emotional distance. That is why intentionality is so important—setting aside time to connect, to listen, to share meals, and to show appreciation. Small gestures can rebuild bridges and reignite the warmth that forms the essence of a family.

That’s why we should consider all aspects of building a family and develop good relationships with everyone—to create an ideal family."