Hive-Reachout Weekly Prompt 42>>"Popular Statement You Don't Agree With". "Blood is Thicker Than Water"

There’s a particular phrase I’ve heard countless times growing up, whispered like gospel in family gatherings, shouted during disputes, or hung silently in the air whenever I tried to step away from obligations I didn’t choose. The phrase is:

"Blood is thicker than water."

At face value, it sounds noble—like a reminder to prioritize family, to remain loyal to your roots no matter the weather. But over the years, I’ve come to strongly disagree with the way this phrase is commonly interpreted and used. In fact, if I’m being honest, I think it has caused more emotional harm than good in many lives, mine included but as for me, I grew up in a home where the word “family” was used more as a weapon than a comfort. Expectations were heavy. Choices were already made for me before I could even express my opinions. I was supposed to act a certain way, carry a certain burden, and stay in places that emotionally drained me—all because "we are family."

But here's what people often don't realize: being related by blood doesn’t automatically mean someone is good for your mental or emotional health. Family can be toxic too. And no amount of shared DNA should give anyone the right to hurt you, control your future, or guilt-trip you into sacrificing your peace.

Interestingly, the original saying is believed to be: “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” A complete reversal of the meaning we’ve been fed! This older version implies that bonds formed by choice—through shared values, loyalty, and love—can be stronger than those formed by biology.

And I agree with that version.

In my life, I’ve been blessed to meet people who are not my “blood,” but who have stood by me in ways my actual family never did. Friends who checked on me during my lowest, mentors who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and strangers-turned-sisters who showed me that love is not bound by lineage. These people are my tribe—my real support system.

That’s why I believe phrases like “blood is thicker than water,” when used to shame people into tolerating abuse or neglect, need to be re-examined. Family is not just who you’re born to; it’s also who you choose to walk life with. Loyalty should be earned, not forced. Love should be mutual, not guilt-driven.

So no, I don’t agree with that popular statement—at least not in the way it’s often used. I believe in healthy relationships. I believe in boundaries. And I believe that the people who uplift your spirit, respect your choices, and walk with you through fire—whether they share your blood or not—are the ones worth calling family.
Picture was sourced from chrome.
Thanks for visiting my page