By Eve Bell

Life moves so fast.

We can’t believe how quick our children grow. Or how soon Christmas comes around.

We’re glued to our screens, racing through tasks, always onto the next thing. In all that noise, it’s easy to lose sight of what grounds us. We forget what truly connects us to something bigger.

I’ve been reading a book called Belonging by Owen Eastwood. The book talks about something quietly profound: our connection to our ancestors. Eastwood introduces the Maori concept of whakapapa, which means genealogy or lineage. It’s the idea that we’re all part of a continuous line. This line stretches from the past, through the present, and into the future.

This reminded me of the old oak tree in the park near my house. It’s been there longer than anyone alive today. Families gather under it and kids climb its branches, I hug it. But the people who planted that tree never got to sit in its shade. They didn’t benefit from their work, but they did it anyway, for those who’d come after.

We’re part of that same chain. We don’t always feel it in the rush of modern life. However, we’re connected to those who came before us. And whether we like it or not, we’re shaping the world for the people who will come after us.

The pace of life today pulls us away from that connection. We focus on what’s urgent and forget what’s lasting. Yet, the truth is, we’re ancestors in the making. Every choice we make ripples through time. It includes how we treat people, how we care for the planet, and how we pass on stories.

So, how can we be good ancestors?

It doesn’t have to be big. Maybe it’s as simple as planting a tree you’ll never sit under. Or sharing a family story at dinner, not just about today but about your grandparents, or theirs. These small acts create a thread. They link us to the past and future. This gives us a sense of belonging that’s bigger than ourselves.

Eastwood puts it best: “We sit in the middle of a long line of people, stretching back to our distant ancestors and forward to those yet to come.” When we see ourselves as part of that line, life feels different. We’re not just caught up in the rat race. We’re part of something much larger – something that’s been unfolding for centuries and will continue long after we’re gone.

So, next time you feel rushed, take a moment. Think about what you’re passing on. It could be a kind word. Maybe it’s a story. You might even plant a seed (literally or metaphorically) that will grow long after you’ve moved on.

When we live like this, rooted in the past, present, and future, we live with a bit more intention. Maybe we all need this. We should slow down and look back. We need to remember we’re part of a much bigger story.