Jack Zipes states on page 200 of his book Why Fairy Tales Stick,“The past is problematical because we both need it and need to transcend it. We must recognize its anachronistic features that may weigh upon us, and we must work through them and their ramifications to start anew. The present has no essential meaning without our conscious reflection and knowledge of the past. Without dealing with the past we cannot move forward.”
For a large part of my life I said, “Enough! I’ve had it with my German heritage. I’ve had it with the Grimm brothers. I’ve had it with everything relating to that part of my childhood.” So I dug a hole, threw the past in it and covered it over with dirt. I even tried planting some flowers on top. Well, Zipes is correct. The past needs to be faced, reckoned with and then some flowers will grow.
Since taking storytelling classes, reading copious quantities of folktales and tiptoeing (with much trepidation) into the world of personal storytelling, I have been put in a position where the past must be examined. It is not all bad. True, there are uncomfortable and painful moments. But, there are also moments of revelation, healing and joy. As I research my German heritage and explore German stories, I have come to realize that my past is part of what makes me who I am today. I find freedom in knowing that I am not bound to my past, but can embrace what is good (like German chocolate, beer and sausage.) I can be healed from the hurts, and can move forward with my whole being exposed to the light.
Leave a Reply