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One thing I know for sure about genealogy and family history is that there is a never ending list of things to learn and to be accomplished. It often feels overwhelming and impossible. It can get very frustrating sometimes. If you love this work as I do, I am sure you've felt that also. Once in a while, our daily life disrupts our best laid plans.
I think The Family History Guide is a perfect reminder that we have to take it one step at a time. Learning and becoming is a process. We have to take it in a systematic way, keeping the Project, Goal, Choice, and Steps in mind. When climbing a mountain we keep the summit in sight, but we also have to focus on each step of the journey. We have to be patient with ourselves and know that every expert was once a beginner. No one knows everything about genealogy or family history. We are all learning. We have to find our own balance to make it a happy experience moving forward.
I am reminded of a Newsletter that Amy Johnson Crow wrote during the time that Hurricane Irma was doing her damage after landfall. She told a story of a family in Houston. They had just returned to their home and were wading through four feet of water, to gather what remained of their possessions. The father, over-ladened with an arm load of things, noticed that his teenager was frantically trying to gather up photos and mementos of her life. He said, "We can't carry it all!"
Amy's point in relaying the story was that we need to prepare for those unforeseen times when we cannot carry it all. In this instance, Amy referred to the photos and memories that could have been lost forever. Amy urged her readers to just do one thing. Scan a photo or write a story and put it online to preserve it. Doing something small, as your circumstances allow, is better than procrastinating.
The father was right, none of us can carry it all. But we can do something each day to realize our goals. The Family History Guide is a great reminder and the best way to make it happen. One focused step at a time makes it more relaxing and fun and moves us forward incrementally.
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