What Does My Everyday Life Have to do with Family History?

The terms “Genealogy” and “Family History” are used interchangeably these days, and those words often make us think about photos like these, and people we never met who lived 100 years ago.  Sure, these people influenced our family dynamic, but that’s all in the past, right?

Yes and no.

As you know from earlier #familyhistoryfriday posts this month here at Evolve: live.grow.give, knowing family stories and family history increases self-esteem and resilience and provides a sense of purpose and belonging.  That definitely happens from knowing the way-far-back past, but it also happens from knowing the last-year past.

Real Life, Real Passion Episode 3: Follow Authentic Laughter, Interview with Cassandra Smith

Welcome to episode three of the Real Life, Real Passion podcast. Today our guest is Cassandra Smith, she is a multi-talented Mom of two. In our interview, she talks about how it’s OK laugh at ourselves and that sometimes we can know whether to develop a talent or not by following authentic laughter.

Find Your Voice; Follow Your Purpose

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’
‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.
‘I don’t much care where -‘ said Alice.
‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.

– Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

So… where are you going?

Creamy Carrot and Zucchini Soup and Zucchini Rounds

Yesterday, Carol Bauer was the guest on Evolve’s podcast Real Life, Real Passion. She is founder of the non-profit organization Garden of Health. Today she share’s with us her recipes for Creamy Carrot and Zucchini Soup and Quick and Easy Zucchini Rounds.

In my conversation with Carol, we discussed many benefits of eating healthy and about how important it is to incorporate fresh produce into our menus. Zucchini is easily found at local grocery stores. Carol also suggested that zucchini is often recommended for beginning gardeners. The two recipes that she chose to share include this highly available vegetable.

Whether you bring them in from your garden or get a little help from the store, these two easy recipes will help put veggies on your table.

Real Life, Real Passion Episode 2: Carol Bauer’s Garden of Health

Welcome to the second episode of the Real Life, Real Passion podcast. Today our guest is Carol Bauer, she is the founder of the non-profit organization the Garden of Health. Her organization works with food pantries and low income senior housing authorities to provide fresh produce and food free from one or more of the top eight allergens to those in need. In our conversation she shares the importance of eating healthy and her mission to help everyone find healthy food that they can eat.

Creating Family Stories

A family history is really a family’s stories.  My story is what makes me ME, so it follows that a family story (or family history) is what makes a family THEM.

There’s actually a lot of power in family stories, too.  Bruce Feiler’s {article, “The Stories That Bind Us”} refers to some significant findings on how knowing a family narrative has a unifying effect on a family and on how family stories specifically help children.  Here’s what the studies showed:  Children who knew a lot about their families and their heritage had a stronger sense of control over their lives, did better when faced with challenges, were more resilient, and had higher self-esteem.