SIBYL MAGAZINE: For the Spirit and Soul of Woman SEPTEMBER 2015 | Page 30

SPEAK YOUR PEACE Family, Italian Style By Cynthia Treglia Last month I spent time with my family at our annual reunion. I don’t get to go every year, but this year was special, as a lot of my cousins, whom I have not seen in a very long time, would be traveling to our hometown to reconnect. I have an extremely large Italian family with over two hundred cousins. My mother, along with four brothers and six sisters provided fifty-six first cousins, and from there I have lost count on the exact number of children arising from the initial eleven siblings in the Diglio family. I don’t know about other families, but I grew up with all my cousins, surrounded by my loving aunts and uncles, all under the watchful eye of Grandma Rose, the matriarch of the tribe. We all remain close and grateful for one another, to this day. As I attended this years reunion, I noticed how people were interacting, their faces as they spoke to each other, and the palpable warmth and connection that was present everywhere. There were children all over the place, so obviously, we are still extremely prolific. Here are some of the lessons that I learned from my family. Have fun, enjoy life and have plenty of food at parties and gatherings. Speak loud if you want to be heard, and be prepared to be teased with stories of your childhood and mistakes made. Never worry about the slightly sarcastic teasing because these are the people who were usually with you during these events, and had your back when you made the mistakes. Our mothers were revered, and our fathers, the best story tellers alive; and they taught us what it meant to belong, to be loyal to the family, to look out for one another, and best of all, to laugh. I hold a deep peace inside of myself because I was fortunate to have the privilege of growing up in this amazing family. I feel confident that I can speak for my brothers and sister when I say, that never in our lives did we wish to be in any other family, with any other circumstances, than those of which we were blessed to find ourselves. It wasn’t perfect. It didn’t have to be. Because there was plenty of love to go around, an abundance of mothers corralling a multitude of children, and enough cousins to assure that you had back up in any type of situation where help was needed. I believe, in some form or fashion, that we learn who we are and what is important to us, from our family. We learn our values and how to treat one another. It is these roots that keep me grounded and self-assured. So with a heartfelt smile upon my face, I say, “Amo la mia famiglia!” www.ctreglia.com [email protected] Unearthing the Flourishing & Successful You! CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LIMITED TIME OFFER –––– ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION NOW ONLY $29.99 (Reg. $59.88) NEVER MISS A FUTURE ISSUE OF SIBYL MAGAZINE AGAIN Contact Cynthia to receive a complimentary 30 minute coaching session. (by telephone) www.ctr Y