“All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way” - Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy

If you read this line for the first time, it makes you wonder if this is really true?

From what I understand, what happy means is very subjective for each and every one of us.

For some a happy family would look like a weekly dinner together, daily video calls, games and drinks together, vacations once in a while.

For some it would be less fights, a calmer home, disagreeing, agreeing, accepting.

From afar, all families would look like happy families - to what extent this is true is for you to decide.

From afar, families stand together - one against the world if required.

From afar, all happy families resemble each other - loving parents, educated kids, certain harmony.

From close, families have differences - each human with their own voices, own decisions.

From close, families are loud - fighting the same voices - for ego, for hierarchy.

From close, families give each other pain - sometimes it is resolved but mostly unresolved.

Under the dinners, lie the invisible wall - nothing to touch, nothing to break.

Under the togetherness, lie the sacrifices - some worth it, some just for the sake.

The glue that holds has to be refreshed again and again - for if the bond breaks, who is to protect, who is to stay?

So is this really necessary, to hold the hands you were born with?

Shouldn't you go out, make a clan that is really happy.

A home with no loud voices, a home that is accepting.

Wouldn't it be a deceit - to abandon the ones who need your support now.

But if it is not serving you, till when should you wait for the same cycle to end and begin again?

Are all families really happy or is it just a facade underneath which the unhappy differences lie?