Family Honor

I don’t know about your family but mine is “extra” but then again I’m a member of it so that means I’m extra too lol. I digress, my family is great! A few years ago they started a recognition award and the relative who gets recognized each year gets to choose who the award goes to the following year and so forth.

Last Saturday was our family holiday gathering. I was having a rough evening but I was around family so I was in the best place imaginable. I declined to play games with the family and watched the festivities happening around me. Then my aunt announced it was time to honor the previous relative this year (why, I’m not sure but I listened and was prepared to root her on). Claudia, my older cousin was awarded the year before and our uncle had some endearing words for her, it was touching you hear, then Claudia started talking about someone who always brightens a room with their presence and I remember thinking, “Wow this person sounds amazing”. I started twiddling my thumbs waiting for the speech to be over and then she said, “This year I chose Amber”.

Tears fell freely before I could accept what was just said. Me? She was talking about me the entire time, little ol’ me, weird strange ol’ me was being recognized by my family. Growing up I’ve always felt different from everyone around me and I was raised interacting mostly with my maternal side of the family. My Dad didn’t go around his side of the family often so my relationship with them began in my teenage and early adulthood. But anyways back to the story…

Claudia had gifted me with three very special items: a silver engraved business card case with Amber Choisella (first and middle name) on the front and a phrase of inspiration on the back. I would quote it but it’s at home and well, I’m not there at the moment. The second quick was a journal with “A. Choisella” engraved on the latch and lastly the third gift which is what I am holding in the picture above was the most precious of all three involved. She had drawn three pictures depicting the course of “discovery”, in which it was entitled. She had said that whenever I get my own private practice that I put it in my office to show clients that through each storm comes strength and continuous growth. I wish I had gotten a better angle of the picture to show its true beauty but I am thankful for the photo I received. I cried hysterically but you can’t see it in the photo. I am so touched that my family “understands” me and my route of truth.

By no mean do I feel as though I am better than anyone else. I feel as though I need to say this as a disclaimer of sorts because I’m no better than you, or the next person, I’m just tryna live my life per my soul mission. This was the highest honor that I have received this year and each day I realize the want for wants are decreasing and I’m just living in the moment of gratitude.

Amber Choisella