At the end of a long work day, who do you turn to in order to de-stress? Does family trump friends, or is it the other way around? For Gulf News readers, family seems to come first.
Daoud J. Khalaf, a Jordanian national based in Dubai, is a father of three daughters and to him, family is the most important. The precious moments that he shares with them, “can never be substituted by friends”.
As the breadwinner, Khalaf says he has a sense of responsibility to provide for his family, be it “advice, money, a moment of love” or anything else that his family needs. But, when it comes to friendships, Khalaf believes that the meaning of friendship has dissolved.
He said: “Friendship have dissolved into mutual benefits at best. I don’t think anyone trusts a friend anymore with their intimate secrets. We have shrunk into our own worlds and have allowed distrust and selfishness to envelop us.”
But, home is where all the barriers crumble. If one member of the family is happy, it reflects on the faces of all. And this happiness is a “source of security, warmth and stability”.
Pooja Vishwanathan, an Indian national based in Dubai, refers to her family as “more of a constant”. Even though she believes that both family and friends influence an individual’s life, her family is her priority.
She said: “There are no responsibilities or duties attached to friends. Family is more important and instills emotional security. I am in peace and happiness when I know I am around people who have seen me grow and have unconditionally loved and accepted me for who I am.”
For Touseef Ashfaq, a Pakistani national based in Dubai, his goal in life is to live for his family. In times of need or to discuss daily tensions, he turns to his loved ones.
He said: “Family will always come first. They help me rise up in life. With friends, you call them when you’re free and want to meet, they cannot give you what a family can.”
Sajida Kamal, an Indian homemaker based in Abu Dhabi, is equally passionate about her family and her wellbeing is dependant on their happiness. She is concerned that many people are not paying enough attention to these bonds.
She said: “Having a family is a privilege, a gift from God. So, appreciate it and accept it the way it is. When we choose to have children, we should make them our priority. I do have close friends, with whom I can share everything. But, no one is closer than my immediate family.”
Many people say that you can choose your friends, but not family. So, isn’t it possible that we find friends who become closer than family?
Saadat Ullah Khan, a Pakistani national based in Dubai, seems to think so. In his life, family and friends are “equally important” because his life, he says, is dependant on a support system.
He said: “Facing hardships in life is not possible without supportive relationships. Sometimes you find your family member to be your best friend so you don’t need to look elsewhere. But, at times a friend becomes a part of your family.”
