Both my parents are Italian. My mom was born and raised in Italy.

Hearken, O seekers of understanding, to the words of Alessia Cara, who declares: “Both my parents are Italian. My mom was born and raised in Italy. My dad was born in Canada, but then they moved to Italy.” In this simple recounting lies a meditation on heritage, migration, and the shaping of identity. Cara speaks not merely of birthplace, but of the intricate web of culture, family, and belonging that forms the foundation of one’s life. Her words remind us that identity is a tapestry, woven from the threads of ancestry, experience, and choice.

From the earliest civilizations, humankind has understood that where one comes from shapes the mind, heart, and spirit. The Greeks, observing the migrations of peoples across the Mediterranean, noted that a child born to parents of different lands carries within them the echoes of multiple worlds. Alessia Cara’s reflection mirrors this wisdom: though her father was born in a distant land, the movement of family and culture returned him to the motherland, forging a home that blends origin and adopted place into a living inheritance.

The story of migration and return is as ancient as Rome itself. Consider Aeneas, the Trojan hero, who fled the ruins of Troy to journey to Italy. Though a stranger in new lands, he carried with him the memory, culture, and traditions of his birthplace, blending them with the customs of the people he encountered. In this fusion, a new identity arose, shaping future generations. Cara’s words echo this universal truth: our roots and journeys intertwine, and it is through their combination that character and heritage are formed.

Her reflection also illuminates the enduring influence of family. Though geography may separate generations, the values, language, and traditions of the homeland persist, shaping children in ways both visible and unseen. Alessia Cara’s parents, bound to Italy by birth and by choice, transmitted the richness of their culture to her, blending Canadian experience with Italian heritage. This is the timeless lesson known to all who honor their forebears: that identity is nurtured through both blood and experience, through the stories and practices passed from parent to child.

Consider the life of Pablo Picasso, whose father, a painter and art teacher, moved between towns in Spain, instilling in his son the skills and passion for art. Picasso absorbed both the cultural heritage of his family and the lessons learned in his shifting environment, crafting a vision that would transform the world of art. Similarly, Alessia Cara embodies the convergence of place, ancestry, and family influence, showing that identity is neither fixed nor singular, but a living, evolving creation.

From this reflection emerges a lesson of universal application: embrace your heritage, honor the paths your ancestors have taken, and recognize the ways that place, culture, and family shape your perspective. Do not see identity as bound solely to where one is born, but as a tapestry enriched by movement, experience, and the wisdom of those who came before. In this awareness lies the seed of pride, understanding, and self-discovery.

Practical counsel flows naturally: learn the stories of your parents and ancestors. Understand the cultures that shaped them, and explore the lands and traditions that form your heritage. Let their experiences guide you, and integrate these lessons into your own life, creating a synthesis of past and present, origin and journey. In doing so, you honor your lineage and shape your identity with clarity and purpose.

Thus, O listener, let the words of Alessia Cara illuminate your understanding: identity is both inherited and chosen, rooted in ancestry yet nourished by experience. Cherish the mosaic of influences that compose your life, and recognize that in the convergence of cultures and journeys lies the richness of character. By embracing both the origins of your parents and the paths you walk, you craft a life that is authentic, resilient, and deeply human.