Living Heritage: a common good
“Living” is not the adjective normally used to describe heritage, however it is a concept that is intuitively understood. All learning is fundamentally connected to language and Living Heritage.
Our values, beliefs, ways of living and surroundings are shaped by family, friends, and teachers, as well as our own lived experience. This Living Heritage, in turn, shapes our landscapes, our sense of identity, belonging and place in the world. Who we think we are and where we come from, as well as where we are and what we do, in large measure determines our ability to participate in and contribute to our communities.
Living Heritage is reflected in how we use the past in the present; in the choices we make every day. It recognizes the value individuals place on their personal or family heritage and how people use the past in one of two ways: to place themselves within a continuum or as a point of departure. Although we cannot change the past, we can change where we stand when we view the past; we can in fact choose to continue on the same path, using the past to establish continuity with our predecessors or we can choose a new direction using the past as a point of departure. In this way, Living Heritage emphasizes human experience and development, makes us agents of change by empowering us all to negotiate values in a pluralistic world and build a shared future.
Building a shared future depends on our willingness to share our personal stories and experiences with others who might benefit from hearing them. Sharing our stories is essential to nurturing empathy, building our relationships with others and a sense of community at the same time. When we share personal stories, we share a part of ourselves; when you are given a glimpse of the human side of another person, your relationship with them is irrevocably changed. An acquaintance becomes a confidante; a fellow employee becomes a colleague. A shared story creates families and communities. The intimacy that comes when stories are shared with others gives us a sense of belonging and strengthens our sense of individual and collective identity and place.
Living Heritage becomes a common good. The development of public policies and the support of public organizations that serve the common good are the foundation of a democratic society.