The Real Meaning of Family

As a child, I remember my Dad often repeating the phrase “Blood is thicker than water.” It was a steady mantra, an exhortation to remember the power of family. The knowledge that no matter what happened, family would “have your back,” support you, love you, surround you. Family was our foundation. A cornerstone.

As I grew, I understood the broader definition of “family.” There are those that are connected by blood—and those that are connected by choice. My Mother and my Father painted this broader vision of family as we integrated their students from around the world—Angola, Pakistan, Brazil, Germany and Jamaica as one of our siblings. Indeed, in our cramped 2-bedroom apartment on the University of Miami’s campus, where my Mother was completing her PhD at the age of 50, our family of 6, hosted many cousins from Jamaica to Angola, who lived alongside of us, strengthening our understanding of family and love.

Perhaps it is this early experience navigating and exploring different cultures and perspectives—that shaped my understanding of what it looks like to be a part of a global family. As a teenager, and then later as a college student, graduate student and as young professional, I lived, studied and worked across Latin America and Africa. In each place, the fabric of my tribe, my family, grew. I learned that no matter in war time or peace, Mothers want the best for their children. I learned that true communication goes beyond words.   And most importantly, I experienced true heart connections as a function of my willingness to see beyond artificial boundaries.

As I reflect on my family, my community, I feel loved and empowered. I am constantly inspired by them, reminded of who I am, and the possibility of who I am becoming. “You are a magical person whose vision will undoubtedly come to pass” one of my high school friends said to me recently. We hadn’t connected in years—and the fact that after a 1.5-hour conversation he could “see” me—and I could see him- buoyed me. 

I think of the power of family—of community—and it remains both a real and tangible benefit and an intangible resource from which we draw strength. Family are those who love you regardless. Family cheers for you, challenges you, encourages you, sees you. 

And it begs the question, what if we saw our neighbors as family? What if we felt compelled to fight for, support and build the environment for each one of us to succeed? What if, we were the “guardians” for each other—holding doors of opportunity open and positively reinforcing each other to step into the best versions of ourselves? What then? Perhaps then we can counteract this tidal wave of “otherness.” Perhaps then, we can more easily see our neighbor as family? That is the world I wish to see. This is the world I choose to build.

It is this mantra, this vision, that has fueled my 20+ year career of empowering communities and youth to embrace their role as positive change agents. Whether guiding law students to be advocates for rural women’s land rights in South Africa or providing a platform for multi-discipline groups to leverage their technical skills to support sustainable development in Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest, or by facilitating thousands students across a global network to dream of their personal commitment for social impact---- I smile, as I recognize the exponential impact of my parents’ simple life lesson.

We are truly each other’s keeper. And we are better together. I know this fact more acutely as I engage with my current group of Global Scholars. Bright, determined and driven to seek solutions to global poverty, precisely because they also recognize that we are stronger together. Given the enormity of our global challenges, understanding that we are a connected village or family, is not just a nice idea—it’s a foundational operating principle. It is an idea that can change the world.  

Beverly Watson is a dreamer, schemer and doer. She is a lawyer, educator, entrepreneur and international development professional. She currently heads the Global Scholars Program at King Philanthropies.   She has worked with thousands of young people across the globe, sowing seeds of possibility of what they can build with their talent, imagination and drive. She is also the proud daughter of the late Rose Watson and Carlos Watson.