Epi-What?
Epigenetics, that is! It is an absolutely fascinating field! Basically, it is how we can turn on or off genes. From physical to mental health, we pass on more than we think to future generations. But we also have the power, through exercise and nutrition and lifestyle, to turn off the genes that were passed on to us.
Holocaust survivors, because of the scale of the trauma, have affected their children’s health in a way that we are just beginning to understand in a scientific way. The last point is important because anyone who grew up around people like that have always know! And it is not just the Holocaust or surviving it. Being conceived in times of crisis (the Holocaust, 9/11, war time,etc ...) or growing up in a particularly traumatic environment (abuse, poverty, you get the idea) produce changes in the body and the brain that we can now see!
Now what to do with that? NEVER RUN AWAY! You can only control what you face! You can even turn those traumatic experiences into something positive! Basically, it has to do with acknowledging and digesting the past so as to move on and enjoy the present and look forward for the future!
Lately, I have been hearing A LOT of researchers sharing their excitement about their findings! The hope is huge! PTSD sufferers of all kinds are beginning to see some light! Brain waves treatments, meditation, video games, there are tons of ways to handle and manage and feel not only improvement but also hope! The hope to find a spot in the present and the future! And we can see it on fMRI! It is hard science, people!
So, Epi-what? Epicurian:) Life is too short to let the traumas of the past darken our present and future! Let’s face, accept, address and cope! And did I say move on? Yes, let’s move on, swiftly, even, lightly.
And when it comes to movement, I can’t think of a better way than RUNNING! So off I go! There are ways to contain and use things we struggle with; running WITH it is my way of coping! A meditation in movement of some sort!
And Maman, Sophie, Sarah; we are good, we are safe, we are happy and we are loved! THAT, too, is in our genes and that is a message we will keep on passing on:)