Somewhere along the line I heard the phrase “To understand who you are, you need to know where you come from”. All rather simplistic at the time as it was probably in relation to family history research, but I have since come to realise that this is so true on so many levels. Exploring personal history, family lineage, and childhood environment  I realised how all had shaped personality and identity in more ways than I imagined possible; some habits and emotional reactions began as childhood survival strategies to gain approval or safety, family and community history strengthens a sense of belonging, and early memories/role models can persist as patterns of belief into adulthood.