‘Our Relationships with Others Help Us Define Who We Are.’

1300 Words6 Pages
Each person has their own individual journey in their quest to belong. It is a part of the human condition that makes us feel as though we must forge ties with something outside of ourselves in order to establish a strong sense of existence and a clear understanding of who we are. The majority of us naturally find ourselves striving to fit in with others, especially during the tough transition from childhood to adulthood. Manipulated by those around us, our sense of self is constantly evolving. We only truly know ourselves at the point of our lives when we are content with those we are surrounded by. The only way to achieve this is to let go of the toxic people who act as anchors in the ocean of life. As human beings, we have the ability to be directly influenced by the people who surround us. From the day we took our first breath, we could not help but be permeated by family, friends, lovers and even the community to which we belong . This continues as its clear now that we need the comfort, direction and fervor of others in order to help us grow and evolve. Relationships have the power to transform us for the better, and cement our personality and temperament in the ground. Australian poet, Bruce Dawe, writes about the nature of relationships and how they can influence and transform us, and very much so define who we are. In his poem “With You Not By Me”, Dawe paints a portrait of life after the passing of his wife. He professes how “the wind is like a spinster twitches” when “you are not by me”, underlining how vital our relationships are, especially in relation to the shaping of our identity, where we are “diffident” without the love and support of another. This notion is crystalized in Carson McCullers’ “The Member of the Wedding.” In the earlier stages of her childhood ‘Old Frankie’ is sure of her identity – an innocent tomboy. This may be because of her
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