Nature vs. Nurture

I do a lot of reading, and every once in a while, I come across something that I feel is very profound and needs to be shared. We've all heard about the debate over the past many years about whether a person is shaped more by his genetics or his environment. I feel safe in saying that this is not an "either/or" situation, that we are influenced by both. There are endless discussions as to which is more dominant, but I have to assume that both are so integrated as to be inseparable. 

From the May 2013 issue of Discover Magazine (http://discovermagazine.com/2013/may/13-grandmas-experiences-leave-epigenetic-mark-on-your-genes#.UbOksPmkruH), there is a fascinating article about how our behavior can actually alter our genes, which characteristics can then be passed on. There is a description of the studies that have been done which includes some of the scientific results that leads to that conclusion. 

Everyone usually has a least one branch in their family tree that has a lot of "black sheep" or chronic mental health conditions, an example being alcoholism. This problem seems to be passed from one generation to the next, and we've witnessed those who fell victim to it in spite of angry feelings toward another member of the family who suffered from the same condition. 

Does this mean that the family is forever doomed to battling these problems? This is where the excitement comes in, because the answer is, "no!" A person can actually reverse these genetic changes by refusing to follow in that path of self destruction. Knowing that many mental health problems are actually types of "short circuits" in the brain, other parameters come into play. Those people who commit themselves to a more positive way of thinking and living can reverse many of those negative tendencies for their future posterity. This goes back to the philosophy of "breaking the cycle" that we've heard about, and it can be done.

This can lead to an interesting discussion on how important your attitude is and how it can influence your posterity. Traumatic events can contribute to this situation which would explain why descendants can, in some cases, experience the feelings involved by knowing about the events. This makes our connection to our ancestors more than just biology. The more we know about our forebears, the better we will understand ourselves.

I encourage you to read the article for yourself, and I know you will be amazed by their conclusions.

Jan's Editing Service

www.jansediting.blogspot.com

Eye on the Weather

Is there anyone who does not pay attention to the weather and its effects on how we live our lives? Already, this winter has provided numerous examples of extreme situations and their potentially devastating consequences.  In 2013 alone, we experienced blistering heat waves, bone-chilling ice storms, severe drought that is continuing into this year, Dorothy-and-Toto style tornadoes, as well as floods. People's lives are not only turned upside down, but they have to somehow find the strength to get up and start over. This process can easily take years, while some never make it, choosing instead to find a new place somewhere else.

In the constant effort just to live our lives as peacefully as possible, it is easy to forget about times in our past in which we had to rely on some ingenuity to get through some unexpected weather events. Having lived more than half my life on the Gulf Coast, it was very important to be prepared for hurricanes, tornadoes, and torrential rains that often accompanied tropical storms. Having experienced all of the above, my husband and I became very adept at handling many of the trials and inconveniences that followed one of these events which took out our electricity for days and weeks at a time. When you're faced with these situations, it's easy to have great respect and admiration for those that came before you--how did they do it?

The devastating hurricane of 1900, that almost destroyed Galveston Island, forever changed that city. Over 5000 people lost their lives as the island was literally underwater. What was left after the storm was a huge pile of debris and bodies, but the survivors refused to give up. The rest of the story is that the people literally raised the elevation of the island and built a huge seawall to protect it from being battered by incoming seas during a storm. This engineering feat has proved successful time and again, even during Hurricane Ike just a few years ago. Ike did produce widespread devastation on Galveston, some of which still has not been cleared away, but other places nearby were literally swept away by the sea. The storm surge was much higher than anticipated, and it literally drowned a couple of the coastal towns, leaving only minimal evidence that they had even existed.

The true test of a person comes after the event in dealing with the lack of amenities and resources. For my family, we were as well-prepared as one could be. We were without power for two weeks, and by the end of the second week, it had really gotten old. We teamed up with one other neighbor, and between us, we managed very well. I had to travel to do laundry, and we did have to look around for gas to run our generator, but overall, we didn't suffer like others we saw. It took quite a while to rebuild the power infrastructure due to all the downed trees and broken lines, but eventually, the power came back, and we had the luxury of a hot shower once again.

This winter, a severe ice storm hit the Dallas area which literally shut it down. We lost at least another dozen trees that made sure our power lines were useless, and we learned that it is different to be prepared for the cold. Many people this year have suffered from the intense cold, places that don't normally get this kind of weather and don't have the resources to deal with its effects.

Flooding can be a major issue in many parts of the country. This was our front yard at our log cabin after a few days of torrential rains. The driveway was completely underwater, and we found ourselves living on an island.

These experiences all become stories in our lives, and as such, we should record them for our descendants to read. Just how much do we actually know about our parents' lives, and I, for one, would love to know in more detail about some of their experiences. I can never say enough that it only takes a generation to lose your family's history, so it is vital that we write down what we can remember. If you don't know what to write about, think about an event that occurred and how your family got through it. All these little chapters will add up, and you will have a family record of your life before you realize it.

www.janseditingservice.blogspot.com

Who Knew?

I came across this on FaceBook, and it was so unbelievable that I felt I had to share it with you:

In 1913 it was legal to mail children. With stamps attached to their clothing, children rode trains to their destinations, accompanied by letter carriers. One newspaper reported it cost fifty-three cents for parents to mail their daughter to her grandparents for a family visit. As news stories and photos popped up around the country, it didn't take long to get a law on the books making it illegal to send children through the mail.....Smithsonian 

I did a search on this to see if this was true or not, and I did find the story. There were two children who were sent this way, shortly after the parcel post system was set up. One can only imagine the public outcry when this became known! I would hope that these children were told of their adventure so that their descendants would know about it. Imagine all the things that could be said: Refused, Return to Sender, Fragile, Handle with Care! 

There could be incredible stories in your family that are equally unbelievable, and it behooves us all to find them and preserve them for the generations to come.

Jan Domenico
Jan's Editing Service for Writers