For most of my life, I believed I was 100% Italian. My mother’s lineage was entirely Italian from Southern Italy migrating to the USA in the late 19th century, and my father’s family, as far as I knew, was the same. Italian culture—its food, traditions, language, and history—felt like the core of who I was. I identified strongly with the classic stereotypes of Southern Italy: talking with my hands, gesturing wildly to make a point; a fiery passion that sometimes tipped into hotheadedness; a love for the traditions and music that define our culture—Christmass time, pasta, pizza, rich sauces, and fresh ingredients; the look and stature so often associated with my heritage, from dark, hard brown eyes to a strong, sturdy build. Like Rocky Balboa, I carried myself with pride, and in my youth, there was no question—I was, in every sense, a proud Italian and still am .
That perception shifted a few years ago when my daughters gave me a DNA test kit for my birthday. I wasn’t overly excited—I assumed it would confirm what I already knew. But the results surprised me: I discovered that, in addition to being Italian, I carry Greek and Middle Eastern roots. At first, it was a shock—but then I realized it made perfect sense. The Italy we know today has been a crossroads of civilizations for millennia. Ancient Rome drew people from all over the Mediterranean and beyond—traders, settlers, soldiers, and immigrants—shaping the DNA and culture of the land. Italy, like much of the world, has always been a melting pot, constantly evolving through migration, alliances, and exchanges.
This revelation reminded me of a larger truth: we are all, in some sense, immigrants or visitors wherever we live. Heritage is not just about what we inherit—it’s about what we contribute. No matter how many generations came before us, the land we call home deserves our respect and our effort to improve it. Our responsibility is to leave a positive mark, to enrich our communities, and to honor both the past and the future not to change to the area we left but to add to it.
Today, when I reflect on my heritage, I celebrate Italian traditions, Greek and Middle Eastern roots, and the broader human story they represent. I see that our cultures, like our DNA, are woven from countless threads across time and geography. And with that understanding comes a responsibility: to embrace our shared humanity and contribute positively to the world we inhabit, no matter where life has placed us.
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