Discovering My Roots: An Emotional Journey with iGENEA and the Surname Greiner
Family name Greiner
iGENEA offered an enlightening and emotional roller coaster journey that led to profound self-awareness, recognition of a diverse heritage, and a newfound respect and emotional bond with the surname 'Greiner'.
My journey with iGENEA has been particularly enlightening, emotional, and liberating. There was an excitement mixed with anxiety when I swabbed the inside of my cheek for the DNA sample. I remember sitting pensively, pondering the repercussions of undergoing such testing and thinking about my identity.
Once my results were ready, my heart was pounding, and many questions whirled in my mind. What if the results indicated a radically different ancestry? Could this discovery potentially change my perception of who I am? I took a deep breath, gathered my emotions, and accessed my results.
The moment I discovered my DNA composition was exceptionally powerful. An overwhelming flood of emotions washed over me as my gaze skimmed over terms such as '22% Iberian Peninsula', '14% Jewish Diaspora' and other percentages representing different parts of the world. It was as if the scattered pieces of my identity puzzle started to fall into place. I found it incredibly resonant – realizing that I don't belong to one place, but instead, to the world.
On my paternal side, my surname 'Greiner' indicated strong Germanic roots. As I dug deeper, I was fascinated to unearth the rich history, culture, and heroic tales associated with my surname. It was like holding a torchlight towards my past, unraveling the stories hidden in the darkness.
What this journey with iGENEA gave me was much beyond a piece of paper with my DNA breakdown or traces in historical events. It allowed me to embrace my various backgrounds, understanding that our diversity is what actually unites us. It made me realize that my surname – Greiner, offers a rich tapestry of history that epitomizes resilience, courage, and dense cultural inheritance.
Indeed, knowing your past enriches your present and influences your future. My experiences with iGENEA's DNA test have deepened my respect and pride for my family and its history. Additionally, I've developed a new fondness for my surname, Greiner, considering it as a symbol of my unique heritage rather than just a label. There’s a definitive emotional bond now with my surname that wasn’t felt previously.
Looking back, the excitement, the anxiety, the curiosity, and the plethora of emotions I experienced are no less than a roller coaster ride. The ride was worth it, every moment of it. It not only provided me with a profound self-awareness but also built an unshakable bridge to my ancestors and their stories, stories that would otherwise have been lost in time.
D. Greiner