"Our names were made for us in another century."
Science is disclosing anxiety may be hereditary. Tests with DNA are documenting that cells carry characteristics of our ancestors. If we are able to track our ancestors, we may learn of their challenges and how those challenges are still being faced today.
My mother was from a large catholic family. I do not know any of her circumstances, except she ran away from home when she was a sophomore in high school. She left a town in Wisconsin and arrived in Chicago, Illinois. She must have been protected by angels as she found shelter with a very loving Swedish husband and wife. She made use of her gift of sewing to support herself. She made wedding dresses and soon built a clientele requesting custom made suits, establishing her career as a seamstress.
As I said, I do not know my mother's story, but as I reflect back on memories, aspects of her life are illuminated. She indeed was a very creative woman, but buried her gifts and stifled her creative spirit. Unfortunately, she was not respected, honored, or encouraged within our home. It developed an awareness of women being lesser than.
I am very familiar with my story and how it painfully unfolded. I spent years trying to get my creative spirit on a track of purpose. I survived without respect, honor or family encouragement until I gave birth to my four children.
It was through this family process I learned trust, support, and the building of dreams. Perfect family? Far from it. During my younger years, I always saw my mother figuratively living in a cage, only later to discover she held the key. I was not going to be like her.
Although I survived many pitfalls in my life, I was proud of my daughter for dodging the feminine issues both my mother and myself endured. My daughter navigated through life with strength in spite of her personal struggles. She was creative, smart, and determined all on her own, and on behalf of my female ancestors I was filled with joy. This is not to say her life was easy or free from illusions or pain.
Not only with my family, but generations are living the challenges of their ancestors and the feminine collective as well. There are patterns stretching across centuries amended with each generation.
It is with this concept I see the importance in healing each generation and the celebration of our ancestors who maintained strength to do their personal best. Life is about challenge. It is how we learn. As unique individuals, we have the ability to approach underlying patterns and correct the charted path for those who will follow us in the future.
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