What is “family?”

My brain’s opinion is that whether blood is thicker than water depends upon your definition of what constitutes a family. You may be close to some biological family members, a bond that began with DNA and became a true friendship. You may be close to some adoptive family members, with a bond of genuine caring and appreciation. You may have a deep bond with a life partner. Rejoice and treasure those relationships. In adulthood, you also may be fortunate enough to have a family-of-choice, a few people with whom you develop a special, true, and lasting friendship. That bond is not of DNA but of choice, respect, love, and pleasure in their company. You improve each other reciprocally. I define family as those--no matter of what origin, gender, or age--whom you love and who love you in return, who stand by you no matter what; who showed up and stayed. They are family. As Soumen Das put it, “Family is not always by blood. It is by heart.”