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How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are

Virtual event presented with Library Speakers Consortium

2026-07-07 13:00:00 2026-07-07 14:00:00 America/Chicago How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are Virtual -

Tuesday, July 07
1:00pm - 2:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-07-07 13:00:00 2026-07-07 14:00:00 America/Chicago How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are Author and renowned therapy expert Mark Wolynn discusses his award-winning book "It Didn't Start with You" in this virtual event. Virtual -

Author and renowned therapy expert Mark Wolynn discusses his award-winning book "It Didn't Start with You" in this virtual event.

How do the experiences of our ancestors influence our thoughts and behaviors today? In his award-winning book It Didn’t Start with You, author Mark Wolynn shares compelling evidence that the roots of our anxiety, phobias, and chronic pain may not reside in our immediate life experience or in chemical imbalances in our brains but in the lives of our parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents. 

And now, The Official It Didn’t Start with You Workbook is available with practical exercises to take your understanding even further.

The latest scientific research supports what many have long intuited: that traumatic experiences can be passed down through generations. Even if the person who suffered the original trauma has died, or the story has been forgotten or silenced, memory and feelings can live on. These emotional legacies are often hidden, encoded in everything from gene expression to everyday language, and they play a far greater role in our emotional and physical health than has ever before been understood.

As a pioneer in the field of inherited family trauma, Mark Wolynn has worked with individuals and groups on a therapeutic level for over 20 years. It Didn’t Start with You is a transformative approach to resolving longstanding difficulties that in many cases, traditional therapy, drugs, or other interventions have not had the capacity to touch.

Register to join our virtual conversation and learn more about how inherited family trauma impacts your health and how to break the cycle. 

About the Author:

Mark Wolynn is a leading expert in the field of inherited family trauma. He’s the director of The Family Constellation Institute in the US and is renowned for his work that bridges epigenetics, neuroscience, and somatic healing, and shows how the traumas of our parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents, can live in our bodies as unexplained depression, anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and chronic health conditions. His book It Didn’t Start with You is an international bestseller, which has sold more than three million copies worldwide. It won the Silver Nautilus Book Award for Psychology and has been translated into 40 languages. Wolynn has  just released the 2025 revised edition of It Didn’t Start with You and The Official It Didn’t Start with You Workbook.

Presented with Library Speakers Consortium.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Health & Wellness | Books & Authors |

TAGS: | |

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Sat, May 09, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14

Sat, May 09, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Adult Services
Join us and play board games! Library staff will be available to help you choose a game and learn the rules!

Sun, May 10, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14

Tue, May 12, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Registration Required. Join us in the Brenner Room for a discussion on "A Marriage at Sea" by Sophie Elmhirst, led by Judy Levin.

Wed, May 13, 10:00am - 10:30am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at the Youth Services desk up to 30 min. prior to start time. Ages 0 - 18 months.

Wed, May 13, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at the Youth Services desk up to 30 min. prior to start time. Ages 0 - 18 months.

Wed, May 13, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Meeting Room 8
Choose from three different designs and make a shiny keychain! Snacks provided! Drop ins welcome.

Thu, May 14, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.

Thu, May 14, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual
Ruchika Sikri and Dr. Patrick Porter discuss their book "Brain Fitness Blueprint" in which they present a 30-day action plan to supercharge your brain and achieve peak performance. Register

Thu, May 14, 4:30pm - 5:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Younger graphic novel fans! Join us for discussion, fun activities and unique crafts as we share the best, the worst, and everything in between graphic novels. For ages 6-8

Thu, May 14, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Put on your jammies and join us for a fun family storytime featuring stories, songs, and more. Registration is not required, but space is limited. Check in at Youth Desk begins at 6 p.m.

Fri, May 15, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.

Sat, May 16, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Once Upon A Bagel
Bring a craft project to work on and meet fellow crafters in your community. This program is suitable for adults.

Sat, May 16, 10:00am - 11:30am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join us for conversation and tips around improving your digital health, including apps, phone tools, and strategies for healthier technology habits.

Mon, May 18, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Create your own colorful pop-up tulip card to give to someone special! Kits available at the Youth Services Desk while supplies last.

Mon, May 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.

Mon, May 18, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
350 pieces. One hour. Do you have what it takes to win? Register with a friend!/ 350 piezas. Una hora. ¿Tienes lo necesario para ganar? ¡Regístrate con un amigo!
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Tue, May 19, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Create your own colorful pop-up tulip card to give to someone special! Kits available at the Youth Services Desk while supplies last.

Tue, May 19, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual
Nir Eyal discusses his book "Beyond Belief" that reveals how the hidden assumptions you carry shape what you see, feel, and do, and how to replace them with beliefs that unlock your true potential. Register

Tue, May 19, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
The Library Board of Trustees regularly meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., except where indicated otherwise.

Wed, May 20, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Create your own colorful pop-up tulip card to give to someone special! Kits available at the Youth Services Desk while supplies last.

Wed, May 20, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Adult Services
Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with a library craft! Choose from a selection of preprinted images, design a unique collage, and heat-transfer it onto a coaster. All supplies will be provided

Thu, May 21, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Create your own colorful pop-up tulip card to give to someone special! Kits available at the Youth Services Desk while supplies last.

Thu, May 21, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.

Thu, May 21, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.

Thu, May 21, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Activity Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event. This event will take place in the Brenner Room.

Thu, May 21, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Highland Park Public Library
Join us for Memory Café, a welcoming and safe space for individuals with memory loss and mild cognitive impairment. Caregivers and loved ones are encouraged to attend.

Thu, May 21, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Meeting Room 8
Join us each month as we discuss a movie and/or film genre.

Fri, May 22, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Create your own colorful pop-up tulip card to give to someone special! Kits available at the Youth Services Desk while supplies last.

Fri, May 22, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.

Sat, May 23, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Create your own colorful pop-up tulip card to give to someone special! Kits available at the Youth Services Desk while supplies last.

Sun, May 24, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Create your own colorful pop-up tulip card to give to someone special! Kits available at the Youth Services Desk while supplies last.

Mon, May 25, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Memorial Day

Tue, May 26, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Makom Solel Lakeside
Event at Makom Solel Lakeside, 1301 Clavey Road, Highland Park. Historian Leslie Goddard explores the making of the film, the controversy with the film, and the Jewish influence on its creation.

Tue, May 26, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Meeting Room 8
Love to read? Always looking for book recommendations? Meet fellow bibliophiles at Readers' Round Table! Join us in Room #8.

Wed, May 27, 10:00am - 10:30am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at the Youth Services desk up to 30 min. prior to start time. Ages 0 - 18 months.

Wed, May 27, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at the Youth Services desk up to 30 min. prior to start time. Ages 0 - 18 months.

Wed, May 27, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Benjamin Goluboff, Professor of English at Lake Forest College and published author, leads the book discussion of Culpability by Bruce Holsinger.

Thu, May 28, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.

Thu, May 28, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Author Carla Bruni discusses her book "Chicago Homes: A Portrait of the City's Everyday Architecture," an illustrated guide to the housing types and styles that have shaped Chicago.

Fri, May 29, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.

Sat, May 30, 10:00am - 11:30am
Highland Park Public Library - Meeting Room 8
Join Highland Park librarians for a discussion of Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach.

Mon, Jun 01, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14

Mon, Jun 01, All day
Highland Park Public Library - Adult Services
Help us finish a 1,000-piece puzzle in one day! We have three unique puzzles for you to enjoy in celebration of America's 250th Birthday!

Mon, Jun 01, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Brenner Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event.

Tue, Jun 02, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14

Wed, Jun 03, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14

Wed, Jun 03, 11:00am - 9:00pm
Highland Park Public Library
The library will open at 11am on the first Wednesday of each month for staff meetings except December (1st Friday).

Wed, Jun 03, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual
Join us for a virtual event with Smithsonian curator Mary Savig on the history and significance of craft at state fairs - from blue-ribbon quilts to sculpted butter cows, and so much more! Register

Wed, Jun 03, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Meeting Room 8
Get started with Microsoft Word. Learn practical tips, tools, and how to navigate formatting options.

Thu, Jun 04, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14

Thu, Jun 04, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.

Thu, Jun 04, 10:30am - 11:00am
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Brenner Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event.

Thu, Jun 04, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Brenner Room
Join Miss Kelly in the Brenner Room for a musical storytime! For ages 18 months - 3 years. Registration not required but space is limited. Check in at Youth desk starting 30 min prior to event.

Fri, Jun 05, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14

Fri, Jun 05, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Lobby
Meet the new Social Services Specialist for the City of Highland Park. Conozca a la nueva especialista en servicios sociales de la ciudad de Highland Park.

Sat, Jun 06, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14

Sat, Jun 06, 11:00am - 1:00pm
New venue Highland Park Public Library - Adult Services
Completed all the puzzles in your collection? Bring them to the library to trade! ¿Has completado todos los rompecabezas en tu colección? ¡Tráelos a la biblioteca para un intercambio!

Sat, Jun 06, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Meeting Room 8
Learn a new skill this summer in a weekly drawing class, led by a local artist! Participants are expected to attend each week. Registration required.

Sat, Jun 06, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Highland Park Public Library - Adult Services
Join us to play board games! Library staff will be available to help you choose a game and learn the rules!

Sun, Jun 07, All day
Highland Park Public Library
Origami is the art of folding paper into amazing shapes. Join us for this month's origami challenge. Pick up your kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. For ages 5-14

Mon, Jun 08, 7:00pm - 7:45pm
Heller Nature Center - Prairie Room
Come down to the farm with Dan Gogh, and learn through amazing magic, wacky puppets, and laugh-out-loud comedy that reading is like planting a tiny seed in your brain!