The Thread that connects all of us.
Two years ago, my son had to put together his family tree for school. It only went back as far as his great grandparents, and it really got me thinking – I barely knew any of the family members past that branch on my side of the tree. There are so many traits in myself and in my children that I can’t trace back to family members that I know. And it hit me. As much as I am an individual living in the present, I come from a long line of so many who have lived before me.
If we are a combination of our present-day selves and pieces of the past of the many that have come before us, surely, we carry so much more than just biological DNA. We carry their stories, their hardships, their memories and of course some of their physical features. Isn’t that just so profound and special. In some way, we are all connected by this ongoing thread that over millions of years has woven and continues to weave the tapestry of who we are.
“Tapestry” suggests something intentionally woven, layered, and rich with detail — which mirrors the idea of inherited stories, love, and even imperfections passed down over time. It also subtly communicates that nothing exists in isolation; every thread (each person, each generation) contributes to the whole.
I have spent quite some time trying to understand the road that has led me to where I am today. I am fascinated by human behavior and one aspect in particular – generational trauma. Sometimes we end up carrying pieces of the past that are extremely heavy and may not have been ours to carry in the first place. I have so much more compassion and understanding for previous generations from learning about the storms they had to whether and how they adapted and coped to survive. This awareness helps me to notice the patterns and behaviors that do not serve me and my family, and it is so freeing to be the generation that breaks the cycle.
I touch on my own motherhood journey in a previous post “Becoming Mom – The 2nd Shift”. I’ve said this many times before – you can’t really understand parenthood and what your parents had to go through until you yourself become a parent. You are tasked with raising the future, something you probably don’t want to mess up. I know now that my parents did the best they could with what they had. They shaped so much of who I am today, they sacrificed and overcame so much, and I know that their intentions were always driven by love.
I love hearing stories from the past, learning about the people who walked this earth before me. It has helped me understand my own identity. When we pass these stories on, we offer our children more than history; we give them context, grounding, and a sense of belonging. In knowing where they come from, they are better able to understand who they are becoming.
I dedicate this post to my Mom and Dad. My biggest supporters – a steady force that has always been there for me to lean on. They show up in ways that they know how. And as I grow older, I see and understand them differently. They are not just my parents, but people to – doing their best in a world that didn’t come with instructions.
Thank you Mom and Dad xxx