The Important, The Precious, and The Super Easy

For many, histories were erased.  People did not necessarily think that recording certain parts of everyday life would be seen as valuable, sacred information many years later.  As a lover of history and a person who works hard to keep and record stories, I often think about my foremothers and fathers.  What were typical days for them on the continent?  What personality traits do I carry— whether it be significant or as minor as a passed down pet peeve?  What did they love? What did they eat?  What were their worries? What were their joys?  

So with this, I began to have my children embark on important, precious, and super easy work.  They began to interview family members on their lives.  The questions were simple, but the stories fascinating. 

The other important task: to write this history down. 

As a child, my grandmother visited our family from Panama.  Though I was grumpy about sharing my room (amongst many angst inducing episodes as a middle schooler,) we had a routine that I will forever cherish.  She told me stories of our family from Panama and Jamaica.  I heard their names.  Because it was usually right before we drifted off to sleep and I did not know how precious that time together was, I remember the stories in fragments. 

A regret I will carry forever.  

But I can shift this regret to action. 

Humans are fascinating.  We all have so many stories of perseverance, of struggle, of joy— stories that make us proud of the people around us and stories that energize us to take one step forward even in the face of doubt.  There are many inspiring stories of people we don’t know personally and who do not know us.  There are those who loves us, who hold these stories.  We reflect and celebrate Black History all year, but this is month that many use to celebrate.  May this month give you the energy to explore the stories of those around you— and the story of you.  I promise you, they are wonderful.