Family Issues

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Recently, I've been finding it difficult to cope with my family, and it feels as though the stress caused by them is becoming too much to bear. So, I come here in the hope that I can get these family issues off my chest and ask for any advice or guidance you fellow MyLotters can give to me. Before I begin, allow me to explain that my family is far from the worst family in the world. In fact, over the years, they have shown me lots of kindness and generousity, my mum and dad in particular. They have been loving towards me and have treated me to a wonderful life. Unfortunately, they have always made me feel like the "black sheep" of the family, as it were, and many of the comments they have made have not hid this fact. Compared to my brother and sister, I am considered to be the runt of the pack, not worthy to stand up to the greatness of my younger siblings. My parents have made it clear that they are far more attractive than me and far more talented than me, lowering my self-esteem through "jokes" and nasty comments at my expense. And this is true because people are always complimenting them and my parents about how "attractive" they are, or how good they are at this and that. It has never really bothered me before, because I know that I have the brains to be somewhat successful beyond school, however whenever my parents point out the fact that they are superior to me, it hurts deep down inside. Because of my inferiority, my brother and sister (who are roughly three years younger than me) have always looked down to me, and have never accepted me as "big brother", or an older role-model. They have always seemed to be embarassed of me, and have even commented on how humiliating it is to tell their friends that I am related to them. Now, the reason why I've decided to start this discussion is mainly due to recent events. Last month, I managed to earn employment doing a job I have a strong passion for. I was employed to write articles and reviews for a small-time magazine. Although the pay isn't much, I've always aspired for a career in journalism, and I know that if I keep working hard in this current job, I can go on to achieve better things. Unfortunately, my excitement was tarnished after I had informed my parents of my new job. Because I'm the smartest of the family, they have always expected me to pursue a career in law or become a doctor. My dad constantly reminds me that "I expect you to buy me a car when your older in return for how much money I've spent looking after you" and "I'll be ashamed if you don't ever become a wealthy man." So, it was no surprise that they reacted in disgust when I told them I was writing articles and reviews in a magazine that isn't exactly a world-wide phenomenon. I told them that I was glad to be doing something I had a genuine passion for, yet they told me I was living in a dream world, and that the only thing that matters in life is money. Now, I'm an adult now and can fend for myself, yet it's tough knowing that no matter how hard I try, my family will always consider me a failure and feel ashamed of producing a son that they have made no secret to be "ashamed of". My question to you MyLotters is, how can I remain positive and how can I end all this stress with my family? And if you have any problems with family, feel free to share too because I know that compared to some people, I have it easy!