"I believe I deserve something beautiful" -Elizabeth Gilbert
The dictionary definition of family is "all the descendants of a common ancestor". However, this succinct phrasing cannot encompass the true meaning of family; having individuals in your life that you simultaneously love, can't stand, and every other emotion in-between but overall, can't imagine your life without. Family means...everything.
Being in a relationship, the right relationship, is an amazing thing. However, as amazing as a relationship is, we have to remember that there are some damn good things about being single, too.
When we beat ourselves up for every little failure, we can hardly even enjoy the victories we do have because we are focusing on how far we still have to go rather than how far we've come. I am in no way saying that we should settle into a life of contentment with average and pat ourselves on the back for every mundane "accomplishment". However, there is sometimes something to be said for making the journey towards your goal the focus rather than the shining, ever-so-far-away end target.
Hannah Elizabeth 