Start in the Past

I think to really move forward in our lives we have to start in the past. What happened to us that made us who we are now? How can the same things happen to someone else but they turn out differently? It's an interesting question, especially in my case since I'm a twin. My brother and I shared basically all of the same experiences when we were children and in many ways we are alike, maybe it's just how we choose to express this 'like'ness that is different.



First of all, my memory is horrible and I know that if I didn't have pictures and journals I wouldn't remember a lot of things that happened when I was younger. My mother was telling me a story a week or two ago and I had no idea what she was talking. I have no memory of the events that she told me about. I'm almost positive something happened to me as a child for me to be able to either forget or block most of my childhood. I could venture a guess or two but I won't do that here.



Maybe it was the time after High School when Rusty and I started to differ. Maybe our choices make us different. How else could he be so extroverted and I be shy and introverted, sometimes to the point of social paralysis? I think that's where the drink comes in handy, but that's another blog entirely.



I know that I am inherently like the family I grew up in, more of my mother than my father. Rusty is more dad than mom and he proved it when we were growing up. Dad and Rusty used to argue all the time but it was because they are so alike, neither of them would back down. My mother and I are much more passive. I'm quiet unless I'm comfortable, like my mother. I think I get my humor from both my parents. My dad is funny in an obvious way, voices, stock jokes, things of that nature. My mom is more subtle, more quiet about her joking, it's an understated humor. My extended family are all a little out there, loud, funny and mostly just enjoyable to be around. I loved growing up in that atmosphere.

So to truely move forward in life do we have to know all about our past or can we have large chunks missing and still be functioning adults? Time will tell.