The Proof is in the Pudding

One of my favourite songs in all the world is called Family Tree. A singer/song writer was going to an obscure recording studio.  He had asked for people to send him emails of their struggles and what they faced.  On that basis he put together what I consider a brillant album that addressed real people’s issues.
One person wrote how their family history had been screwed up and wondered if they were destined for that. He writes, “this is not your has to be, yesterday does not define you.”
The reason I was reminded of that was something said in the James Clear email the other day. “Many of our habits and beliefs are learned from those who raised us. Which family story are you unconsciously repeating and reenacting? How can you rewrite the script to liberate yourself and the next generation?
I do like that.  It is not a mind blowing thing, but I did some physical action and thought immediately “that was my father.”  One of my most embarrassing moments ever was being in Bunnings with my dad and having an attendant say, “it is good to see two brothers out and about.”  He was flattered.  I was miffed.
I was talking to someone I knows grandson yesterday and they told me how they supported a particular football team.  He said he was indoctrinated from youth by his grandma to support that team.  He is older now and has made that decision for himself.
It is true that the way we are and often what we believe is more inherited than considered.  Yet in my mind there needs to come a time when I make up my own mind concerning something and act on that for myself.  Sometimes I will hold to what I have inherited.  Sometimes I will reject it, based on things considered that I believe matter.
It is really important to me to find out things for myself.  Even when I respect and admire the teller, I do not know something is true unless I have proved it for myself.  Where it is beyond my power to prove something for myself, I tend to go with what is common sense and good for humanity and has been proven by others I respect.
Another lot of words I love are, “I’m not one who’s got it all in place, telling you what you should do, no I’m one ol hungry beggar showing you where I found food.”
Of course I am flattered when someone believes what I say, but I definitely feel better if someone has proved it for themselves.