A Note about Genealogy!

First, let me say genealogy is a very personal experience. Some view it as a hobby while others spend several hours per day scouring sources and information. You need to make this genealogy experience uniquely yours. You shouldn't feel rushed or pressured, so spend as little or as much time working on your family history as you feel the need.

One important aspect to remember while compiling your family history, there will be times when you encounter many leads, times when you just don't seem to be getting anywhere, and many times in between the two. These leads may take you all over the world, may stay within your local area or may turn out to be dead ends. No matter how much time you dedicate to your family history, the most important aspect of genealogy is to have FUN!

In order to be a successful genealogist, you need to create goals. How do I create goals--you may ask? Well, one good way is to ask your self this question:

What do I want to learn about my family history???

I remember when I began it was like being in a dark room with the lights off! I couldn't see anything because it was all one big dark blur. Yet, as I stopped and started thinking about my family, I realized there were a lot of things I didn't know--a lot of blank spots in my memories. So I then asked myself, "What do I want to learn about my family?" Right away, my first thought was "I don't know my grandparents middle names." Whalaa--my first goal.

This was good, but now I needed to figure out how to find this information out. This is my goals system:

Goal # 1: Find my paternal grandfather's middle name.
a. Ask my father and/or his siblings (My grandparents on both sides have passed on).
b. Look through old journals, letters, etc.
c. Look for a birth or death certificate.

Well, you get the picture. You need to find your own goal system. What is important is that you follow your own system. You will encounter many leads and an abundance of information, but if you stick to your list of goals, you will find the information you want to know and what you need in order to fill in those blanks you seem to be missing.

As time goes by, the more information you find, the more leads you will have and the more family history you will be able to 'fill in'! Just begin with one small goal, and before you know it, you'll find yourself making lists of goals to be completed in the future.