Memories of our family and childhood are what shape our personality and who we are. Whether we like it or not, our personality is formed by our parents, brother's and sisters, and the environment that we grew up in. Some choose to believe that ignorance is bliss. They cut off ties with their families or interact with them only on the major holidays. This thinking is catastrophic. We can only grow as people when we choose to confront our past. If our childhood experiences were abusive, then we don't necessarily need to face our abusers, but we do need to face the fact that we were abused only then can we move forward in our lives.