Because I find history so interesting, I tend to gravitate towards readings, pictures, documentaries, and such about history. Recently, I've begun to bring history to the most personal level I know -- that of myself and my family. I have found it a fascinating and informative adventure looking through old photographs and reading the few life sketches available to me at present. As I have thought about what life was like for these people, I have also wondered about what these people were like. What were their personalities? Their likes and dislikes? Why did my grandfather never smile in pictures? This last made me wonder about what kinds of thoughts my grandfather might have had (I never knew him). Ultimately, I began to consider myself and my own personal history.
I began to think over the events of my life so far, particularly those of my childhood, and to contemplate how those events shaped my personality and who I am today. There are things which happened in my childhood that I remember vividly. Perhaps more importantly, there are thoughts and feelings I remember having that I know have had a tremendous impact on my life. Many of these are demons in the dark that I still struggle with. I have also learned things about my parents that I did not know as a child. With an adult's perspective, I can see how the things in their histories have played a part in making me who I am by making my parents who they are.
When I deal with someone who reacts to an event in a way I consider strange, out-of-proportion, or simply inexplicable, I find myself wondering what in this person's past might be causing this reaction. This same thought can be expand to groups, communities, cities, and even countries. Knowing history can give us a clearer view of the present. There is an old adage that says those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Maybe we can all learn something about each other from our histories, and, in so doing, learn how to coexist a little more peacefully.
