Ancestry. Referring to a person’s ethnic origin or descent. Their roots. It could be your parents. Your grandparents or four generations back. Some take pride in where their forebearers were from or what they did. Cultures in Japan and China, for example, are widely recognized for their profound and deeply ingrained traditions of veneration for their elders and ancestors, known as filial piety. The belief that ancestors continue to influence the living. Connecting generations of the past through a shared sense of identity and tradition.
Ancestry unites us with those before us, not only through genetics but through values, traditions, and stories. I recently listened to a podcast by an Indigenous elder from a North American tribe. He finished the podcast with a question: How are you practicing being a good ancestor for the generations to follow?
Good question. What are the essentials to pass down to my loved ones, to the generations that will follow? What was worth it, most valuable, or most significant? Am I practicing being a good ancestor?
While in Japan, I couldn’t help but notice how elders are integral to the family unit. Three generations living under one roof. The grandfather might cook a meal while the son and daughter-in-law are busy with chores. There might be a great-grandparent. There is a natural respect for elders, providing care as they age –a built-in intergenerational support system. Sharing responsibilities. Providing a strong sense of security. Family stories and traditions are passed down. I remember watching an elderly woman walk hand-in-hand with her grandson on a quiet Kyoto street. No rush, no divide –just generations moving together.
Different from America and other Western countries, where the cultural norm emphasizes individualism and the idea that adult children should live independently. Modern life has also made it more difficult to provide in-home care for elderly parents in comparison to generations before. There is a lot of research about the impact of social isolation amongst the elderly, and I wonder if Western cultures might evolve to include intergenerational living not only for support, but to pass down meaningful familial traditions, rituals, ceremonies, or simple things like a recipe. Aunt Jenny’s Big Boy Brownies. Grandad’s BBQ. A legacy through small things.
Maybe a good ancestor isn’t about the grand gestures, but the quiet ones –the meals we share, the stories we tell, the love we pass forward. I may never know my great-grandchildren or grandnephews or grandnieces, but I can live as if they are watching. With every story I tell, every kindness I practice, I’m shaping the inheritance they’ll receive. In Japan, people honor their ancestors at home altars. In the West, maybe we honor them through the lives we build and the values we keep alive. Either way, it’s the same thread –connection across time. Maybe a good ancestor is simply to remember, and to live in a way that is worth remembering.
We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Native American Proverb
Enjoy the Passage of Time.
Sharon
© 2026. Sharon Kreider. All Rights Reserved.