I have made a list of things which I would like to trace back to their familial roots. I have been continuing to journal about finding my place in the puzzle which is my family of origin. Here are the categories I would like to investigate:
Money, Food, Exercise, Work Ethic, Sleep, The Arts, Emotional Expression, Religion, Rebellion.

These would certainly be a good start. I can tell already that comparing my feelings to those of other family members will uncover many sources of my tendencies. I can take almost any topic, really, and trace it back to its roots in past generations. I can also take another family member’s personality quirks and attempt to do the same. It seems to be a deep wellspring in the pursuit of self-knowledge.

originally published on 2/27/08