Some of life’s most useful lessons may come from a grandma at the checkout or a father on a hiking trail. Over time, moments like these become part of a family’s history, and that may be a good thing, helping spread kindness from one generation to the next. A 2008 study by Emory University psychologists found that kids who knew more about their family history tended to have higher self-esteem and fewer behavior problems. The authors suggested that feeling part of a family’s story may offer strength and moral guidance. Here are 11 lessons people learned from family and still live by.