Do people have a hard time understanding your interest in genealogy? They don't realize all the gifts it gives you.
We get into genealogy for different reasons and with different expectations. I met a man who thought after 3 clicks on an unsourced genealogy website that he was related to Adam and Eve. That's it. I win genealogy.
Others are eager to learn about where their ancestors came from. What was their family name before their grandfather changed it? Can they find living cousins they never knew before? Why did their ancestors leave their homeland?
Our motivations can change over time, too. I've learned from my research that all my ancestors came from a compact geographical area—my mom's side and my dad's side. Then DNA testing showed me my parents are not-too-distant cousins. That's an important motivation for me now.
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| My genealogy research gives me an appreciation for my lost culture. |
Give the following genealogy research gifts some thought. Then, get ready to fire back some knowledge at the next person who says you're wasting time on your family tree.
1. My genealogy research gives me an appreciation for my lost culture.
As the grandchild of immigrants, I was raised in a much different culture than my ancestors. Most immigrants to America tried their best to assimilate and blend in. Their cultural influence diminishes with each new generation.
Your genealogy research teaches you about the names, places and customs of the old country. It makes you wish your ancestors were still here to tell you all about it.
2. My genealogy research inspires me to visit to my true homeland.
The first time I set foot in my grandfather's hometown in Italy, the earth moved. I felt a sense of belonging. I loved everything I saw. Every stone, garden and poppy. After that visit I spent time studying the language and preparing for my next visit. I've been there a few times, and going back is all I can think about.
3. My genealogy research urges me to learn more about history.
My maternal grandfather was a prisoner of war in Italy during World War I. As a prisoner, he had to eat rats to stay alive. But he never told us anything more.
I researched Italian army battles where prisoners were taken. I narrowed down my search to a particular battle where an astonishing number of prisoners were captured and sent to one of two camps. That was my theory of what happened to my grandfather.
During my last visit to Italy, I went to the archives to see my grandfather's military record. Imagine my tears when I saw for myself that he really was in the battle I had guessed. And they sent him to one of those two prison camps.
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| We each have our own reasons for taking up this hobby. |
4. My genealogy research has made me more analytical.
Newcomers to this hobby haven't yet seen how easily you can follow the wrong lead. How quickly you can put the wrong family into your family tree.
These mistakes can still happen to us after years of research. But with each mistake, we learn what to look for, and what to look out for. We become more analytical and keep an open mind.
Those skills will spill over into your everyday, non-genealogy life.
5. My genealogy research has made me more organized and efficient.
As a contractor, I've always worked for more than one company at a time. I like to take the skills I learn on one job and apply them to the other. I get better at my job and both companies benefit. Everybody wins.
Genealogy has become like another client to me. The tricks I learn with Excel spreadsheets on the job, I now apply to my genealogy work. I take the Photoshop skills I develop while enhancing document images and apply them to my paying clients. And my organization skills are always improving.
It seems clear to me these gifts are the reason you find so many helpful amateur genealogists on Facebook paying it forward. People are always ready to help you with a difficult search. Or to translate a birth record. Or to recommend where to go next in your search.
We're ready to help the next genealogist because we're grateful for all our gifts.
You think I'm wasting my time with family tree research? You clearly don't see what's going on here.
And speaking of why we love genealogy:
I started doing my family history research out of curiosity. I wanted to know my families past and where we came from. As time went on and I became more proficient doing research, I eventually turned to documenting what I had learned by putting together Family History Books on one line of our family (I'm now working on book #3). For me the decision to document what I have learned came with the realization, "If not me, then who"?
ReplyDeleteThat’s sweet, Peter. I’d love to know a bit about how you’re formatting your books.
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