Burden

As a child, I would roll my eyes when my parents would ask me to do things like call my grandparents or to go visit them. Even as a teen, I was preoccupied with “having fun” and doing what I wanted. Now that I am an adult, I’ve come to realize the importance of family connection. Loved ones do not remain on this earth forever; when the time comes to say goodbye, will I be happy to have known them, or will I feel regret for wasting the chances I had to cultivate a relationship in the first place?

In recent years, my grandparents have been having a very difficult time with maintaining their health. Some are no longer here. In the wake of their passing, I have started to reflect seriously on the relationships that I have with my remaining relatives. Have I been making an effort to show them that I value them, that I cherish them? The reality is, I could probably still do much better than I am, even after making some changes in recent months.

In moments of frustration– at the world, at themselves, or at others– I have heard many elders say things that have opened my eyes to how they feel. They have expressed to me the loneliness at the heart of aging. So many children and grandchildren, but so few who find time to call or visit. When someone has grown their family, only to be seemingly sidelined or ignored, it can be easy to feel as though they have been abandoned.

Of course, most people probably do not perceive themselves as unfaithful to their parents; many make an effort to take care of their parents and show them affection. However, life can get in the way, and it can be very difficult to maintain connections, even with your family. When writing Burden, I did so with the perspectives of both younger and older people in mind. The film is my message to audiences– young and old– about the importance of family. We all have our own challenges to deal with, but we should still make time for each other– including our grandparents, who often feel left out.