Have you ever gone antique shopping, collected certain items, or wanted to learn a language and wondered why you really like these things, when it really has nothing to do with anything, except that you like it?
My sister collected lighthouses, in the form of miniatures, art, etc., She never knew why she liked them so much...she just did!
We both have always LOVED the East Coast, and fell in love with Massachusetts. The history, the lush green countryside, the historic homes, on and on. I have always loved the coastal style of home, decor, etc.
Three or four years ago, {I've lost track now}, we started our Family History Journey. I know I'm probably being redundant, as I have shared a lot of this already; but, I still feel the need to share and put an all important question out there..
Could it be possible, that your DNA has a memory?
We all have passions, likes/dislikes, hobbies, or even extreme fascinations with certain cultures. But have you ever wondered if it's something deeper than, "it just interests me"?
The reason I ask this, is because through this journey of researching our family history, many "isn't that weird?" moments kept happening. At some point you start to think maybe this is more than coincidence.
Let me explain...
I'm 41 now, and when I was 24 and living in Honolulu, Hawaii for a short time, to be near my Dad and his family, I was working in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. One of my coworkers suggested that while on my lunch break, I stop by the psychic fair and get a "reading". I was single, and wanted to find out why, at that point in my life, I was still having trouble finding "The One"!
What else does a 20'something single girl ask a "psychic", Ha!
So...why not!
She was a young late 20-something "psychic", and I asked her the above question.
Her response was this...
"This is interesting...I see a very large ship, with large sails, like from a long long time ago. I see you. You have 3 children. Something happened and your husband died, and left you with the 3 children. Until you get over the loss of him, you won't be able to move on and find your true love."
I walked away thinking that was the most random and bizarre "reading" and made absolutely no sense!
Fast forward 14 or so years later, and Heather and I discover in our research that our Great Grandmothers Grandfather was a whaling captain in Honolulu. That was shocking enough, then I found this...
At this point, we find out it took over 6 months for our 3rd Great Grandmother to find out her husband died. We just felt sad. Then, later that evening, I kept rereading the obituary in my head.
Then, it HIT ME!
"Leaves a wife and three children to mourn his loss."
All of a sudden I remembered that "random" psychic reading, that didn't seem so random anymore!
Then, we find out he was from Lowell Massachusetts, his best friend married our 3rd Great Grandmother, and he was also a whaling captain, and in his retirement he was a lighthouse keeper in Honolulu.
Are you kidding me!
So now, the lighthouses, affinity for anything Nantucket, nautical, etc, all of a sudden makes scary sense to both my sister and me!
I bought this print below,10 years ago. I found it in a thrift store, and had to have it!
Turns out it's the Charles W. Morgan in Mystic, Connecticut, which was an American whaling ship.
I put my questions about the elusive Dennis (Denis) Kelly on a whaling online forum. And in a twist of fate, a friend of a relative, saw the post and recognized the story. She told our cousin, who lives in Californina, and she got in touch with me! In another twist of fate her son was living in Texas too! The next thing I know, she comes for a visit!
I know people casually say they believe in fate, or that their loved ones are still with them, and you casually agree.
But, if you really think about it, do you ever wonder about those "loved ones" you've never met? What if they love us, and know us; yet we've never met? What if they want us to know them so badly, they latch on to our passions, and push us in directions to find them, know them, and love them too?
I think so often when we research our family tree, it's just a bunch of names and dates. Never any stories, never any pictures, never a "real" person. So how could you possibly get a real picture of who they were?
Watch any show like "Who do you think you are?", or "Genealogy Roadshow", and see their individual journeys. It all seems to start out the same way...looking for a name, date, and some more information. Then, you hear, stories like Brook Shields, finding out she had history in France, as in royalty. She mentioned she wanted to learn French, had traveled to France, loved everything French, and never knew she had a genealogical history in France!
There are many stories like this!
I have loved our journey immensely. NOTHING is a coincidence anymore, I look at everything differently now.
My sister Heather brought this question to mind... {and forgive me Heather if I've chopped up your idea, but I think this is pretty close!}
~What if we don't just pass down eye color, hair color, and health. What if we pass down memories? What if we pass down passions or fears?
For example, when were afraid of certain things, for no reason at all! No previous experiences with that fear, we are just afraid!
I know... It really makes you think!
Ironically, several years after she proposed this idea, a study came out about this exact thing a year ago.
Here is the link:
http://themindunleashed.org/2014/01/scientists-found-memories-may-passed-generations-dna.html
So the next time someone asks you why you started a certain hobby, collection, or career choice, stop and think. It could be genetic! Your 4th Great Grandfather may have been an architect, whaler, scientist, lighthouse captain, artist etc.
It may not be as random a career choice or passion as you think.
Don't you just LOVE science?
Have a Great Weekend!
And when your out gardening, sailing, antiquing, etc. this weekend, stop and think... like one of my Pinterest Boards Titles
"Family History~I wonder if ?..."
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