Who Has Time for Genealogy in Today's World?

Who has time for genealogy?
I'll work on that when I'm...(name the age!).
I have more important and pressing things to do!
I think it's boring.
My family doesn't care who they are.
Why waste my time when Aunt Sally knows everything there is to know about our family.
Why bother?

I have heard a variation of these comments for many years now. I realize that I am a genealogy nerd, but with genealogy approaching the #1 hobby of people in the world, I can see that I'm no longer alone. People have many reasons that they want to know about their families. Do you look like any of your ancestors? Whose hands do you have? Can you see some of the same mannerisms coming through the generations?

Personally, I think that everyone has time to work on genealogy. I know I am very biased, but we find time to do what we want to do! The one thing that I do want to point out is that:

GENEALOGY ISN'T JUST PEDIGREE CHARTS AND FAMILY GROUP RECORDS!

Genealogy is stories...
Genealogy is pictures...
Genealogy is scrapbooks...
Genealogy is letters...
Genealogy is videos...
Genealogy is family vacations...
Genealogy is togetherness...
Genealogy is sharing...
Genealogy is traditions...
Genealogy is research...
Genealogy is discovery...
Genealogy is connections...
Genealogy is journals...
Genealogy is a labor of love...
Genealogy is...never ending!

This is what genealogy is all about!!!

FAMILY!

 
I think that we can work on some piece of genealogy during all seasons of our lives. It may not be extensive researching while we have little kids at our feet. It may be that at that season of life, you can keep track of birth certificates, baby blessings, pictures, and maybe jot a few observations in a journal. That is genealogy!!!

When you are older and the kids are in school, you'll keep those school pictures, report cards, and the zillion papers that they bring home. That is genealogy!!!

When the kids hit high school, now may be the time you write to them about your own experiences in high school. Kids have a hard time believing that you were once their age. Show them that you were. Talk to them about your struggles. Let them know that they aren't alone! That is genealogy!!!

When the kids leave for college, LDS missions, and marriages, the dynamics change a little, but you can still keep track of their lives through letters (emails), notes from phone calls, pictures, and even family vacations. That is genealogy!!!

Grandkids will capture your heart! Start traditions with them. Let them know that you are on their side. That is genealogy!!!

When we are older and not so agile, maybe recording your personal history is what you will work on. Again, that is genealogy!!!

So, my point today is that genealogy is alive and well in much of what we do! We just need to be a little more conscious of it! If you need a little inspiration, Google family history project ideas! You will be amazed at what you find!