April 1, 2023
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
What or Where Are Your Roots?
By Eloise Graham
Have you given any thought as to where are your roots? What does that really mean? What significance does it have? Is it where you came from? Your family tree? Where you are now? Your community? I pondered all of this after hearing a podcast over the weekend.
The podcast was about Simone Weil (pronounced Vail with a very soft ‘L”) and her philosophical thoughts. Simone, a Frenchwoman of Jewish descent, was a philosopher, mystic, political and social activist of the early 20th century.
It is known that to survive we must have water, food and shelter, but Simone went farther than that. She claimed we had other needs, just as important. Those needs can be for emotional, intellectual, spiritual comfort. They are not tangible but still very important to life. One of these needs is the need for roots. Roots make us feel grounded, stable.
Well I have lived in 12 different towns in 7 different states and in 18 different homes. Do I have roots? I think so. Roots are more than just being in the same spot all of the time. After all, we are not trees. For humans, roots are a sense of belonging, being a family, being part of a community.
Some plants can be transplanted and thrive, others wither and die. It might depend upon the condition of the soil, the care with which the roots or root ball were handled, or the nurturing after the transplant. The same can be said for humans, but not in a tangible way. Has being “transplanted” ever happened to you? How did you feel? Did you put down new roots? What about nomads that have no permanent home or town? They still have roots. They live in groups and travel in groups. They have community. They have history together.
So that’s what our roots are. They are a sense of belonging, of community, of purpose. These are all things that we humans need for emotional well being.
We can start with our family tree and see where our ancestors came from, what our history is. Then we can get involved in our church, community, career, schools, group activities – all of this will give us a sense of belonging. Find a cause you are passionate about and volunteer. This will really make your roots go deeper.
Perhaps you are at the stage in your life where you are retiring and moving to a senior living complex. Don’t feel uprooted. Sprout new roots. Get involved and belong!
BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!
