Family Surnames

  • *Dukes*
  • *Fultz*
  • *Haynes/Haines*
  • *Lynes*
  • *Mills*
  • *Parker*
  • *Shank*
  • *Thornley*

Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Stories That Bind Us



I feel a strong connection to my ancestors and our land because someone in my family showed me these places, told me who lived there and showed me pictures if possible. They told the stories of the people's lives. These were my ancestors before me and I felt a connection and have memories that I want to hold on to. That's what I want to pass down. Not everyone feels that connection, but I read an article recently that made a lot of sense to me and I think it explains how important knowing your history means.

The article was printed in the New York Times on March 15, 2013 and titled “The Stories That Bind Us” by Bruce Feiler. A study had been done showing that children who know more about their family’s history tend to do better when faced with challenges, have a stronger sense of control over the lives and higher self-esteem.  Why does knowing where your grandmother went to school help a child overcome something as minor as a skinned knee or as major as a traumatic event? The answers have to do with a child’s sense of being a part of a larger family. The bottom line: if you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family’s positive moments and your ability to bounce back from difficult ones.

Yes, as children growing up we all yawned a lot during the “back when” stories of our elders, but believe me, those stories stay in your memory and are appreciated so much as you grow older.

If you would like to read the article in its entirety the link is: