As we move through life, we carry so much with us. Our ancestors. Our trauma. Our joy. Our sadness. These dichotomies are then passed on to those that succeed us: Our family, whether adopted or blood. And at the end of it all, when we die, our memories don't die with us, contrary to popular belief. They are passed on. Every event in our lives causes a ripple effect through succeeding generations. We might not even know the names of our great-great grandparents or further, but every decision that they made in their lives has led to the moments that make up our lives. Many shared moments are inherited and bear repeating. However, this does not deprive us of our agency. Every choice we make in our lives also causes ripple effects across generations and communities, whether positive or negative. This does not bring me anxiety as I believe the majority of these come with an undercurrent of love. This love for family, for friends, and for strangers is what binds us as people. This love is truly the most powerful force in the universe. As we move through our lives, our only hope is that the ripples we send out into the world are primarily founded on the basis of love and intention. In 100 years, in 1000 years, the love will be what remains. The love is what echoes across time. And that, in and of itself, is a reason to be joyful.