DNA: Your Best Friend and Worst Enemy
DNA: Your Best Friend and Worst Enemy: “Life is not the way it’s supposed to be; it’s the way it is. The way you cope is what makes the difference,” advises Virginia Satir, Family Therapist Guru.
We live in a chronological envelope with many personalities, many assets, many innate talents, and many vulnerabilities due to our family’s genes. I get my curiosity and ability to make rings from my passed pops. When alive and active, most of us thought he was crazy as he was always inventing new ways to make things.
He once made a fan for his bed by using old parts from a vacuum. He also made a heater for the front room out of a washing machine. I was always embarrassed as a child. As an adult, I am proud because I now know he was an artist and inventor, like myself now. I have been making what I call Picasso rings that are one of a kind and beautiful for years. Like him, I love working with metals; only my female genes want me to make one-of-a-kind rings.
Genes Turning On and Off
I am also proud of my passed mom, who had obsessions for sewing and reading romance. She had stacks of dusty romance magazines on a table in her bedroom. As a teenager, I always thought she should write her books, but she was not endowed with the passion for writing – just reading. That is the gene thing turning on and off with each generation, despite what we would prefer. My grandparents were both teachers. I think I got more of their genes than moms. I write nonfiction with an expository writing style. The Expository seeks to explain and inform like teaching. I also write prose poetry that seeks to describe what makes me – me.
Turning into Mom Poem
I hear my mom’s voice many mornings when I roll out of bed, her eyes looking back at me in a mirror, both of us crying a little. It was our habit to refer back to minutes, weeks, months, or years gone by, when forced to keep doing, as opposed to enjoying each other, when we sat eye-to-eye, we were estranged, waiting for our bodies to stop hurting. Our minds to stop accusing and excusing. Still, now that she is deceased, I try to simplify my twisted feelings by trying to forgive and forget, and remember, our anger at the world did not compromise our love for each other.
I hope we are never predisposed to judge others by their DNA, to track the Pandemic that is turning our world upside down. The differences in our genes make us special and unique. I am not you. You are not me. Our genes will travel far into the future if we have kids. After all, our DNA was perhaps the first three-dimensional Xerox machine. Despite the unique genes that drive us to our careers, we need to play, work, and get along with each other. Nothing is more important than a healthy sense of self-esteem. This takes courage and focus and discipline. We must let our kids be themselves. They struggle in life to know, embrace, and accept themselves in every way.
Nonconformity
Do you think nonconformity is part of our American DNA, which can be our best friend or our worst enemy? We know no one has the exact gene pool except maybe biological twins. Triplets with the exact genes have been in the news lately. As for clones with the same genes, it is emotionally troubling by some of us, but mostly for spiritual reasons. After all, many of us believe we were made in God’s image. Therefore, I imagine this thought generated this classic quote. “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity,” warned Albert Einstein. Theoretical Physicist (1979-1955).
Explorer Gene Therapy advises, replacing a non-working or missing gene, can change how our existing genes act. It has taken nearly 30 years for the first gene replacement therapy to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in people outside of a clinical study.
Pandemic
While most of us crave the security of knowing what tomorrow will bring, we are a lot most resilient when acting as rebels. I wonder how many of us are fearing oblivion from the recent Pandemic before the scientists get it right? As I am writing this, a new steroid has been discovered that will save lives with those on ventilators. They are saying it will cost only a dollar a day.
“Our world is determined to return violence for violence. Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” Says Isaac Asimov, Foundation.
Melting Pot of Talent
I see no end until our government changes. Greed is driving the world right now. Many of us are protesting. An instinct when the world is not to our liking; and, people are being gunned down daily in the streets, some because of their race. Oscar Wilde warned us, “There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.” Something should be done about gun control and racist brutality by the police and racists. Our genes do not want all this fussing and fighting. This is taught bigotry from the damaged or mentally ill. Voting is so important right now, but so is staying in the home to prevent more sickness and victims.
We are a melting pot of talent and filled with creativity that drives us even when we are on mandatory vacation. This is the perfect time to have some fun and try something new. Do not think about dying. An eye-for-an-eye attitude will leave us never learned to forgive. Do not think about living, loving, and being grateful humanity is determined to exist for the future. Denis Waitley, Motivational Speaker, tells us, “Losers live in the past. Winners learn from the past and enjoy working in the present toward the future.”
DNA: Friend or Enemy?
Excerpt from Song of Myself by Walt Whitman (1892 version)
I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
The smallest sprout shows there is really no death,
And to die is different from what any one supposed,
and luckier…
Find the complete poem here.
Stay Safe. Obey Social Distancing.
- https://raechelconover.com/10-good-things-that-will-come-from-this-pandemic/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/progress-notes/201908/remembering-family-therapist-guru-virginia-satir
- Check out this healing music video.
