Family: The First Circle of Team Playing

Our relationships are shaped not only by their importance, but also by the time and interaction we devote to them. This is why family naturally comes first. We spend more hours with our families than with anyone else, and so it is within the home that we encounter both the highest joys and the sharpest challenges. It is also here that our truest character is revealed. Someone who struggles in relationships will often show their weakest side with those closest to them, because family is where the testing ground lies.

There is another factor at play: expectation and familiarity. Families nurture us the most, and for that very reason, expectations run high. When expectations are not met, complaints and frustrations surface quickly. At the same time, the closeness of family can sometimes lead to taking one another for granted. We may show anger or impatience at home that we would never dare to display outside. In this sense, family becomes both the most rewarding and the most demanding arena of team playing — requiring patience, respect, and empathy above all.