We Are Made of Us

Lessons from a hospital chaplain on family, trauma, and love

Working with the ill, injured, and dying at a level 1 trauma center, J. S. Park has seen it all, from shocking confessions to deathbed reconciliations. One thing he’s noticed: When it comes to family, even the most “well-adjusted” person can fall into unhealthy patterns. Secrecy, guilt, and fear can make changing our family dynamics feel impossible. But we are not doomed to repeat the same cycles over and over. We can rewrite the next chapter of our family history.

In We Are Made of Us, Park weaves together stories from his chaplaincy and upbringing with evidence-based research and trauma-informed care principles. And as the son of Korean immigrants who has provided counsel to people from all walks of life, he brings to bear diverse cultural perspectives on healing, community, and liberation. The book explores three concentric circles of family:

• family of origin (the family we were raised in)
• chosen family (the community we surround ourselves with)
• family beyond (the people we’re connected to from beyond the grave, across oceans, or by ancestry)

No matter who you are or how complicated your family is, We Are Made of Us is here to provide the comfort, insight, and strength you need to decode your origins and come home to yourself.