Certainly, "love" does work in mysterious ways. As you say, it is not an accurate transaction. Some people even fall in love after someone does them something bad. However, I think that genuine love does have at least a little logic behind. Otherwise, it is just an infautation or mere emotional attachment/dependance. The later is usually what happens within families.
We grow attached to our families because they are the people who we see the most and we get used to them, eventually, we even take them for granted and depend completely on them. There is something that many people learn the hard way, and it is that even if you don't have a good relationship with your family, you can usually rely on them much more than with any other person. You think your friends would never turn their backs on you, but if you ever need money (a lot) or a kidney, it will be your relatives who will offer to help you first. However, again, this is not truly "love" for me.
I will never forget what my grandfather once told me. He said that I should always tell my parents and siblings that I love them. I responded that love is shown by actions, not by words. But he responded: "No son, it is the opposite with family. We do things for them because they are family, even if we hate them. One can only know if a relative loves them if they hear it".
And well, I will finish explaining why I don't think most families love each other... and it is because of lack of honesty and communication. I am a teacher and I can assure you without a doubt that more than 90% of parents have absolutely no idea about how their children really are. Most parents idealize their kids and live in denial. That's why kids lie to their parents all the time as well, because they don't want to disappoint them. And well, I don't think there can be love among people that don't even know each other.
Is it normal that i have never felt love towards my family?
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Certainly, "love" does work in mysterious ways. As you say, it is not an accurate transaction. Some people even fall in love after someone does them something bad. However, I think that genuine love does have at least a little logic behind. Otherwise, it is just an infautation or mere emotional attachment/dependance. The later is usually what happens within families.
We grow attached to our families because they are the people who we see the most and we get used to them, eventually, we even take them for granted and depend completely on them. There is something that many people learn the hard way, and it is that even if you don't have a good relationship with your family, you can usually rely on them much more than with any other person. You think your friends would never turn their backs on you, but if you ever need money (a lot) or a kidney, it will be your relatives who will offer to help you first. However, again, this is not truly "love" for me.
I will never forget what my grandfather once told me. He said that I should always tell my parents and siblings that I love them. I responded that love is shown by actions, not by words. But he responded: "No son, it is the opposite with family. We do things for them because they are family, even if we hate them. One can only know if a relative loves them if they hear it".
And well, I will finish explaining why I don't think most families love each other... and it is because of lack of honesty and communication. I am a teacher and I can assure you without a doubt that more than 90% of parents have absolutely no idea about how their children really are. Most parents idealize their kids and live in denial. That's why kids lie to their parents all the time as well, because they don't want to disappoint them. And well, I don't think there can be love among people that don't even know each other.