Our families are obviously not only the people that we know, but those who came before us whom we never knew. The writer, Thich Nhat Hanh, says:
“If you look deeply into the palms of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”
Amazing thought; isn’t it? He said *each* is present in our bodies. Families are the means by which we humans continue. Some cultures know a lot about their ancestors; our American culture, not so much. It’s mysterious to think about those people who preceded you – and that they were the continuation of those who came before, just as we are their continuation.
How connected are you to your family and, in particular, to your family history? You’re connected even if you never knew your birth parents. What characterizes that connection for you, and how can it be a richer part of your life?