Besides Paula’s passions for pigs and wellness, she has a great interest in family history, for compiling stories and photos to pass along to future generations. Why? Because stories and photos connect us to important people and events and wisdom in our lineage. They connect us to each other and ultimately to ourselves. Facts can be boring, but stories and photos show personalities and feelings and lessons … and we would be wise to honor these.

Stories support our foundation and validate our many wonderful (and challenging) qualities. The stories of joys and sorrows, milestones and real life bring the generations together and allow us to honor those who came before us, those who gave us life, those who struggled so that we could have a better life.

As the seasons and decades move along and life becomes filled with “all the things,” it’s easy to forget where we came from and what makes us who we are. It’s easy to think that we know it all or can do it better. And perhaps we don’t even like who or where we came from. If nothing else, those people gave us life, and that’s quite something to celebrate.

In previous generations, there were many experiences and much wisdom from which to learn and grow … from their successes and failures, joys and sorrows … and it is worth remaining in touch with it. While there is great value in the advancements of society, at the same time we are losing depth and connection. May we remain connected to the best of the past, as we create new and upleveled lives and society going forward.

What a shame it would be to lose the wisdom and lessons of the past. How lonely it would be to live on an island of disconnection and separation, of thinking nothing else matters but me and my own little life. Life is so much larger and richer and joy-filled when we honor the expansion and fullness of humanity.

And someday WE will be the Ancestors, the History. What stories and wisdom do WE want to pass along to enlighten our families and society, to have truly made the world a better place?

Paula has written multiple books in her “Family Heritage” collection – the grandmother she never knew, the gifts of her family tree, her childhood home and community, their family’s Christmas traditions, and biographies of numerous family members … complete with photos. These stories and photos are gifts for future generations – to see what life and people were like and to get to know the fullness of “the dash” between the birth and death dates.

Paula is passionate about legacy – about leaving behind meaningful information, examples, history, and setting meaningful actions into motion. Her writing projects have challenged her to consider her own legacy. You are reading part of it now.