We live in a time when identity is often treated as the central organizing principle of our lives — our jobs, our titles, the boxes we check on forms. Yet so many of those identifiers are fleeting. Jobs come and go. Labels change. And none of them, on their own, tell the full story of what truly matters to us or how we choose to live.

What does run deeper — deeper than titles, deeper than roles — are the core values we carry and cultivate. And one of the most powerful ways to discover and clarify those values is by exploring our lineage.

When we look back at the people who came before us, we can often trace the guiding principles that shaped their choices and communities. Threads of those values might still be visible today in the lives of our parents, grandparents, or elders. These are the roots beneath the surface — and connecting with them can help us define our own leadership map. They help us answer questions like: What do I stand for? What will I walk by? And what kinds of communities do I want to build and belong to?

Beyond Identity: Communities Rooted in Values

Over time, I’ve learned that the most resilient, nourishing communities are not those defined by labels but by shared values. Years ago, when I was an avid Telemark skier in northern New Mexico, I stumbled into one such community.

Telemark skiing is delightfully old-school — your heel isn’t locked into the binding, only your toe, so your turns are slower and more deliberate, closer in rhythm to cross-country skiing. Choosing that style led me to people who loved being outside, who valued slowing down and savoring the landscape, who sought quiet and solitude over speed and spectacle.

That shared approach to life became a natural filter for community. Out of those snowy slopes grew friendships, dinner parties, and countless adventures. What brought us together wasn’t a job or a demographic — it was how we wanted to be in the world.

That’s the invitation: to seek out, or build, circles of belonging rooted in shared core values. These are the spaces where meaningful, authentic relationships take shape. They’re where mutual aid flows naturally, where we stand shoulder to shoulder when challenges arise.

Lineage in Action

Sometimes, lineage-based values reveal themselves most clearly when we see them lived out in community. Last summer, I experienced this deeply during a trip to Latvia that coincided with the National Youth Song and Dance Festival — a beloved tradition held every five years (delayed to ten this time due to the pandemic).

Because I was recovering from an injury and using crutches, I couldn’t attend in person. But like millions of Latvians, I watched the live broadcast and later saw the streets filled with young people in traditional dress. What struck me most was that 33,000 young people were singing in a country of just 2.5 million.

That number spoke volumes. It meant that tens of thousands of adults had devoted countless hours to supporting them — sewing traditional clothing, organizing rehearsals, and even crafting 15,000 fresh flower crowns in the days leading up to the event.

The lesson was clear: the Latvian people treasure their next generation, and they understand culture as a tool of resilience. They didn’t need to declare these values — they lived them. Rich or poor, urban or rural, they came together around a shared principle: the next generation matters.

It gave me tremendous hope. It reminded me how powerful it is to organize our lives around lineage-rooted values, and how those values can guide even the simplest daily actions. For one person, that might mean volunteering with a youth baseball team. For another, it might be ensuring neighborhood kids get to school safely on their bikes. Each of these small, intentional acts is a way of walking our talk.

Becoming Good Ancestors

Exploring our lineage is not just about honoring the past — it’s about shaping the future. By grounding ourselves in the values that have sustained our people across generations, we can make clearer choices about how we lead, how we belong, and how we support one another.

And when we build communities around those shared values — rather than fleeting identities — we lay the groundwork for collective resilience. We create spaces where mutual care and shared purpose thrive.

In doing so, we step into our role as ancestors-in-the-making. And one day, those who come after us may look back and recognize that it was our commitment to core values — old and new — that helped them find their way.

Join the free online Matriarch Member Circle to connect with others in this community:

• https://www.maijawest.com/matriarch-makeover-member-circle