There is no such thing as strangers, only friends you have not yet met. You have probably herd this saying which is very true, but have you considered that it applies to family as well? When we talk we will often include “family and friends”. Could this be because in essence they are the same?
Biologically speaking humans are classified in the following manner,
kingdom-Animalia, means humans are animals.
phylum- Chordata, means they have a spinal cord.
class –Mammalia, means they feed their children milk, have hair, and give birth to live young.
order-Primates, means mammals including humans, apes, monkeys, lemurs, and living and extinct related forms that are all thought to be derived from generalized arboreal ancestors and that are in general characterized by increasing perfection of binocular vision, specialization of the appendages for grasping, and enlargement and differentiation of the brain. (Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary, © 2007)
family-Hominidae – includes extant (living) and extinct humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. (Wiki.answers.com)
genus-Homo, means bipedal primates that includes modern humans and several extinct forms, distinguished by their large brains and a dependence upon tools. (Dictionary.com)
species-Sapiens, means modern humans.
From a biological perspective humans are only one in a vast array of animals and other life forms! Why is this important? Because our dependence upon tools, namely the ego mind has lead us to believe that we are superior and that all other creatures must bow to our presence. Even among other humans an order of supremacy exists, often to the detriment of many fellow humans. I don’t need to tell you how this system works since you are no doubt intimately aware of its intricacies.
The message of this blog today is that of family. What is family and how do you fit into it? This depends on your perspective of course, as all things do. From the biological perspective your family is all extant (living), and extinct humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and organgutans, or the large apes. To simplify, you are a large ape! Put that large ego mind of yours aside and consider this. You are a part of a much larger eco-system here on earth, a member of a larger family called the large apes. Are you getting along well with your family?
Looking closer now at just the species, Sapiens, family means something different, “the basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not: the traditional family.” (Dictionary.com) If you look up this word you will find that it has several other meanings as well. One of those includes humans identifying together as a group whether they live together or not. So what this means is that your birth family (parents and children), those related to you by blood are not your only family.
If you are an orphan you don’t even know who these people are! Is it important? Not unless you make it so. My mother was an orphan and I asked her about this. I could see that she would like to have known, but that ultimately it did not matter. She is who she believes herself to be. We are all related through the biological family, and who you are loved by or raised by makes a big difference. Yes, your birth family does play a big role if they are the ones who raised you. First and foremost is how you identify. Who you feel yourself to be, is who you are. The genetic code of your make up does play a part in the picture but this can change due to the environment in which you grow up! Science has now proven that the environment affects your DNA makeup.
Part of growing up and maturing is to step back and get the big picture so you can see where you fit in. What it all comes down to is that your choice plays a big role in where that is! If for some reason you decide you don’t like who you have become, then take what you have and choose again. Be the person you envision. We each fit in together as we are all family.
🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth
Unity in Gender Diversity Discover Sex and Sexuality click here
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_human’s_kingdom_phylum_class_order_family_genus_and_species#ixzz1FrpMJM4V
Primates. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary. Retrieved March 06, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Primates
homo. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved March 06, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/homo
Oneness Ministry 