Who made you, you?

I find the path we take to adult-hood to be most intriguing.  I also enjoy the reality that everyone has their own
story, each one I find to be quite interesting.  I think most of us would find sitting back and listening to someone tell  about, "their life" can be very relaxing. 

It is also very thought provoking.  The urge that comes over all of us, as we share a similar experience with the story teller, prompts us, with a strong desire, to interrupt and interject our crazy scenario that matches theirs.  It is times like this, when listening becomes a difficult job.  Keeping our tongue in our mouths and our thoughts on pause, in order to listen to what "their saying" can actually cause our blood pressure to rise.  Lol.  Our life story wants to spill right out of our mouths.  After all we all have a story.

I also find it is important to share my story with my kids.  I want them to understand their roots.  I share my husband's story as well as he tends not to.  At least, not as often.  I'm guessing the difference ties into women's, need to talk and men's, resistance to talk.  Haha.  Just joking, just joking. ;-)

What makes us who we are is most likely linked to who came before us making them, who they were.  Confused?!  Don't be.  The person your grandmother was on your dads side for example, encouraged your dad to be the way he is.  The way he is, encouraged you to be the way you are.  It's a nicely designed spider web. Lines criss-crossing, making a weave that is ever so lovely.  Or perhaps a fly crashed into your web and left it a complete mess.  We must see those flaws in the web as beauty.  A display of resilience. 

It is also interesting how certain individuals stand out.  How you tend to refer to one particular family member from the past more often than others.  Sometimes I reflect on just how long it has actually been since I mentioned my grandpa Jack or my grandpa Ron.  Yet I mention my grandma Velma and my great grandfather often.  I give compliments about my mother to my children weekly and refer to the intelligence of my dad to the kids regularly.  Why do they get top billing?  It is not that they are more important to me in my chain of family, that goes on... and on.  However, they do stand out.  They have left a mark in my mind and I verbalize it.  Who do you think of often and refer to?  Do you ever thank them in thought, or in prayer?  Do you let them know and remind them how their life has impacted yours? 

My kids had me do a family tree one day.  I thought, "this will be fun!" I started with a large poster board and it was fun, at first, because it was easy.  I listed myself on one side, and Chad on the other and went from there.  Then I started expanding the branches, and expanding, and expanding!  Soon I was on the phone with my mother, she relayed to me all she knew of past family members, but eventually told me to, "Hold on the line," While she ran to get a diary of my grandmother's.  My grandmother had written all she knew at one time in her life, explaining even further back through the generations.  My mom and I were able to go back 6 generations of grandmother's on my mother's, mother's side.  It was very interesting.  (the names were quite entertaining as well. Haha) Then I soon called my dad.  He gave me a boat-load of information too and before I knew it, hell, I needed more poster board!!  Not to mention I hadn't even started on Chad's side.  Holy smokes, this was much more work than I ever realized.  It might be better to draw out a lovely tree with all its inter-twined branches and then, right there, across the page, over top of the, tree just write out in Bold Black Marker, "Related to Everyone under the Sun!"  Roll the damn thing up and toss it in a corner.  There. Perfect.  Because really?!  Wow!  It is pretty crazy to think about.  In fact, I'm not even sure my brain wants to think about it.  Haha. Have you ever heard people say, "Just think.  All  your relatives had to survive for you to even be here!"  It's true!!  I think....?  It's confusing! (?)  Haha.  As I write this with a quizzical look on my face.  

Regardless, its those who stand out in our daily discussions, that led a life of impact on others.  How are you impacting others?  Will people talk about you when you are gone?  Will they be relieved you are gone.  Lol.  This actually happens sometimes, so sad but true.  Again however, what story are you living, telling and showing?  I try to be happy, but really how much remembrance will that get me?  I try to give good advice, be genuine.  I also try to be silly and fun.  Don't forget the legacy you are leaving behind with others.  Most importantly your loved ones.  You are impacting their future and their life-style, their, "web" if you will.  You are seeping into their psyche and leaving an important imprint, so make it valuable.  Oh, and if your cobweb has some smashed up bugs laying in it, messing up certain sections, join the club and remember, that web is still standing strong.  It hasn't failed and fallen to the ground.  It stands secure, and resilient and revels in the fact that there are plenty of beautiful weaves to be enjoyed still remaining.  Life is full of those damn bugs crashing into our web, we all have those little buggers but rarely does a web fall.  In fact, I've seen those webs hang on in the worst of storms.  Stay positive, keep on weaving, leave a valuable imprint and thank those who made you, you!
xo
S.