What better way to start off the new year than to celebrate familial relationships? If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few years, it’s that my relationship with my family is the most constant  bond that I will ever have. From my large extended family to my parents and sisters, I am grateful to have a steady support system of people who love me no matter what.

Since prehistoric times, the world’s first hunting/gathering tribes were based around the nuclear family. Some of the most famous deities in the world, the Greek and Roman Gods, are also an extended, albeit problematic, family. Take a look at diverse forms of modern media like Keeping Up With the Kardashians and Downton Abbey, and you can find one thing in common. Are you sensing a theme here?

While family structures have changed a lot over time, fluctuating between extended patriarchal lineages to tight-knit, unconventional groups of relatives, the thing that has always stayed the same is the bond between members. Though at times families can be wrought with conflict and confusion, blood is thicker than water, and that has been proven time and again.

I am so thankful for every member of my family. I can always count on my grandparents to give me advice and wisdom, and to remind me that my problems are minimal in the grand scheme of things. My little sisters keep me playful and light-hearted. My aunts and uncles take me on adventures and lead me to try new things, like climbing mountains or tasting weird ice creams. My parents are my guardians, the people who comfort me and push me towards my goals. And my extended family, the network of cousins and great-aunts and uncles scattered across the country, love me from a distance.

Out of all the families in the world,  mine is for sure my favorite. So as I head into 2017, I am looking forward to spending more time with my relatives and taking advantage of the wonderful relationships I have with them. To my most present, unshakable, loving relations, thank you!