The story I listened to was about a young boy, David Lepelstat, who almost drowned in his family’s pool. Fortunately, he was saved by his uncle’s partner at the time, a man named Michael. The story is about redefining family and appreciating people for who they are, not the labels attached to them. The man, Michael, wasn’t related to David by blood, so David never really considered him a part of the family. However, once David saw the lengths Michael went to to help him, even saving his life, he realized that family didn’t necessarily have to be all about blood. I think this story is really touching because it shows how arbitrary terms like “family” can be. Just one instance can change completely how we think about others. It’s so easy for titles and relationship defining terms to change as we grow as people. To me, this speaks to the idea that no matter how something might feel in the moment, there isn’t anything in life that can’t change over time. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it, but to me it’s reassuring. Time can fix relationships, heal emotional wounds, and make Michael, or whoever Michael represents, a part of the family.