Is your genealogy in shape? Now you may think this is a silly question. When we hear the phrase “in shape” we automatically associate it with our physical health. So, what could these two concepts -- “fitness” and “genealogy” -- possibly have in common?
Like millions of others, one of my New Year’s resolutions for 2006 is to become more physically fit. Another is to become a more dedicated and effective genealogist.
As I approach my physical fitness and genealogical research goals, I observe many similarities. First of all, just as physical fitness is accomplished by exercising your body, success as a genealogist often requires exercising your mind. Secondly, the preparation for each activity is often parallel. You need to warm up, stretch, sometimes hit the ground running, feel the exhilaration of activity, and then, cool down.
Often you start off with a bang; you have the best of intentions that excite you and initially spur you on. With a regular physical workout, you lose a few pounds and your clothes fit better. With genealogy, you discover a detail about an ancestor. You feel great.
Then, it happens. You hit a brick wall. Your weight loss stalls. You search for further information on your ancestor, but fail to find that one record that will confirm your assumptions. (The courthouse did not have the birth or marriage record; the church your ancestor attended burned down and the records were lost in the fire, etc.). You begin to get discouraged and want to pack it in. “Is it really worth it, anyway?” Then you make excuses -- “I don’t have the time. It’s too difficult,” and so on.
Both activities require a great deal of hard work and also have similar obstacles. So I have identified twelve steps to use as a guideline for working on my personal fitness and my family’s genealogy...
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