Psychology also supports the idea that early roots matter. Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, shows how our first relationships with caregivers shape later patterns of trust, intimacy, and self-worth. Moreover, family narratives—how parents and elders explain past hardships or successes—quietly become scripts we use to interpret our own lives. When we deliberately revisit these roots, perhaps by asking elders about their struggles or reflecting on childhood memories, we can understand why certain triggers, ambitions, or fears recur. This does not mean we are trapped by our origins, but it does mean we cannot truly understand ourselves while ignoring them. [...]
