Book Selection #1

It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle

**By Mark Wolynn**

The book leads readers through a process of self-discovery and healing, helping them identify the emotionally-charged language of their worries and fears that link to unresolved traumas in their childhood or family history. Through provocative questions, relevant case studies and a series of body-centered exercises, readers are guided to become detectives, mining their family history to unearth the source of their issues. Ultimately, readers learn how to convert old, fearful images into ones that bring strength and healing. It Didn’t Start With You is the first book of its kind to offer step-by-step guidance to help people break the cycle of destructive inherited family patterns.

Facilitated by Kerri Ann Colby

I’m sure it took Oprah FOREVER to decide what her first book club selection would be, right?!

I introduced the idea of starting a book club at Kindred Roots a few months ago and then immediately got overwhelmed and sidetracked, and then felt shame at not presenting it in a way that anyone could participate. I got stopped in my tracks and it became another one of those projects I’d started and not finished. (Did I mention I have ADHD? That might be a subject for our next book club.)

In the end, I decided on this book, “It Didn’t Start With You,” in hopes that I could blame not just my mother but all my distant relatives for the problems in my life and the legacy of mental health struggles that I’m leaving for my kids.

But what if depression and anxiety didn’t have to be part of their legacy? What if I could break the cycle right here and right now? That’s what this book claims it can help us do.

Does it sound like something you’re interested in exploring for yourself? Then join me.

Step 1: Get the Book.

Order it in paper or digital format below, or pick it up wherever you get books. Also, I feel the need to say that AUDIO BOOKS ARE A-OK! Whatever it takes, dear human.

(This post contains product affiliate links. Kindred Roots may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking this link.)

buy the book on amazon

STEP 2: Read the book.

This can be the hard part. My best-intentioned self has a stack of books on my bedside table to read and the pile never seems to get smaller. But persevere. Together, we can get this done. You also have my permission to skim it or read a summary online. You do you. There is no judgment here.

STEP 3: Register to Talk About it as part of our Community.

Are you thirsty to unpack everything you learned? Or maybe you’d like to find out what other people thought? The Kindred Roots community is exactly where you need to be.

SIGN UP TO ATTEND AN IN-PERSON BOOK CLUB MEETING AT KINDRED ROOTS IN OKOTOKS ON FRIDAY, april 5TH AT 6:30 PM.

OR SIGN UP FOR A ONLINE DISCUSSION ON ZOOM ON MONDAY, APRIL 15 AT 6 PM MST.