Reconnecting With Your Roots

An infant, his mother, his maternal grandmother, and his great-grandmother. - via Wikipedia

In today’s busy world, we sometimes do not take the time to stop and ponder where we came from. All of us have a history that goes back thousands of years, with ancestors that roamed different parts of the earth. Although we may not be able to connect with the ancestor of two or three thousand years ago, there is no reason we cannot learn more about our more recent heritage.

There are still many people in the world that have not lost this connection to the past. Some cultures embrace their ancestors and have a clear understanding of exactly where they come from. It is part of their everyday life, their traditions, their customs and even their religion. Many of the Australian Aborigines tribes in the northern territory live very much today as they did centuries ago, embracing their heritage and culture.

So why look back? For some, it may not seem important, and for them, maybe it is not. Reconnecting with your past is about being a part of something larger then yourself and possibly learning more about you as a person as well. It can bring a sense of belonging and purpose to know where your family originated and that you are connected to that history. Learning more about your ancestors may help you understand your parents, grandparents and even yourself, better.

Finding a Path to Your Past

First and foremost, begin the journey to your historical roots. Some will have no problem in this aspect as their bloodline is clearly of one ethnic group or another. Others have a more varied history, to say the least. If this is the case, you might need some help. Your closest relatives are your best source: parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Learn as much as you can from them on where you are from: towns, names, etc. There is a good chance that one of your relatives has already made this journey on their own and has information they can share.

Once you find a direction to look, there are many sources of help. Gone are the days of physically looking through old records! The world and your ancestry is only a mouse click away. There are many sites that can, for a fee, help you trace your ancestral line. This is the quickest and easiest way to find where you came from and to learn more about your family’s history. It can be an eye-opening journey to learn that these figures from the past are your relatives; you share a common bloodline and history!

Connecting Today with Yesterday

You know where you are from. Your ancestors came from China, India, Germany, etc. Now what? Knowing where your bloodline started is only the beginning. You share that culture and heritage not only with the people in your family, but an entire civilization. There are beliefs, traditions, customs, language and history that you have in common through your heredity with thousands, most likely, millions, of other people. If you have ever felt alone in the world, you know that in at least this aspect, you are not!

To explore this part of your past, you can go as far as you want. You can learn the language, take a trip to the “motherland”, take a class on the customs and culture of your ancestors; it really is up to you.  The more you learn, the more connected you become.

Learning the Language

One of the most basic and most interesting ways to feel connected to your history is to learn the language. If your family is only a generation or two removed from your native land, you may have relatives that speak the language. You may even have relatives that still live there. If that is the case, then learning the language will have practical advantages, as you will be able to communicate better with people in your own family. Some things can be lost in translation and most are more comfortable and articulate in their native tongue. Having the ability to talk to your relatives in their language can create a connection that was not there before.

Even if you do not know anyone who speaks the language, there are still many reasons to pursue learning it yourself. By knowing the language, you can read literature in its true form from your native country, without losing some meanings in translation. In some cases, you may be preserving a language that is slowly being lost such as many of the Native American tribal languages. If you do decide that you want to make a trip to your ancestral country, you will be able to communicate and enjoy the experience on a different level by knowing how to speak the language.

There are many options available for learning languages that are designed to make learning faster and easier. It is not as difficult as you might think and is well worth the time and effort. Once learned, it is a skill you will keep with you and can even pass on to your own children and family.

Going “Home”

To know where you are from can be learned in books, videos and websites. To experience where you are from, you must go there. Nothing you can read or watch will replace going and being a part of the culture. Taking a trip to your native land can open up an entire world for you. You can eat, see, smell and truly be a part of where your roots came from. If you have learned the language, it will be a great way to expand your use of the skill and experience the culture at a deeper level.

There are many tourism companies and groups that plan trips specifically around learning the heritage of other countries. These usually include visiting historically relevant places and architecture, along with experiencing the local culture and cuisine. It can be an easier route and possibly less expensive than planning your own trip. These tours are often done as groups and will encompass touring several places and may have different itineraries to choose from. The drawback to these types of tours is that some focus more on providing entertainment value versus pursuing the true heritage, highlighting areas that are well known and more intriguing to the average person. Planning your own trip has the advantage of going specifically to the region of your roots and literally walking the same ground as your ancestors.

Any trip you take will have its rewards and bring you closer to your heritage. It is the only way to truly experience the culture, even if it has changed since your lineage was last there. Most people who make the journey feel a new connection to their family and past that they had not felt before.

Connecting on a Budget

If planning a trip across the globe just isn’t in your budget, you can still find ways to connect to your past. There are many classes available that can help you understand the culture and history of your family. There are many local groups that have community classes that are economical and sometimes even free. Many historical societies for different cultures have events and fairs that can be educational as well as entertaining. Don’t let economic reasons hold you back from your heritage; it is one thing that will always belong to you!

Learning who we are and where we come from is part of experiencing life to its fullest. Many are lucky enough to know this from birth, but for the rest of us, it is still obtainable at one level or another. Finding and connecting to their roots can fill a void for some, a connection to the circle of life. For others it may be a better bond to their immediate family and an understanding of themselves. Whatever the outcome, it is worth taking the time to explore your roots and claim your heritage.

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