Usually when I mention my genealogy addiction what I get in return from others is sincere interest. They wish they knew how to get started, they ask me for advice on how to get started or the genealogy bug has also bitten them and we trade stories.
Every now and then though, I’ll meet someone with zero interest. I mean… zero. Not only do they not have any interest, they don’t see the point or why it’s important.
“Genealogy? Really? What’s the point? What does some guy who died decades ago have to do with me?”
This is usually when I try to keep my head from exploding. What does some guy who died decades ago have to do with you? One word…
Everything.
If you are one of these people-I ask you to bear with me and hear me out. If you are someone who’s interested in researching your family-let me give you another reason to be interested. And for those of you who already get it… let me give you a reason to smile today (because you’ll get where I am going).
So, let’s get started….
I’m going to have you use your imagination for a second… don’t fight it! Just roll with me here… Let’s say your 10th great grandfather’s name is Noah Washburn and just for fun… let’s pretend this is him…
Again… obviously the photo isn’t that old-nor is the guy in the picture named Noah Washburn (pretending).
Back to your handsome, 10th great grandfather, Noah Washburn…
Let’s think about Noah’s life for a second. Like our lives, there would have been everyday things that happened in his life that would have been out of his control. Things he would have needed to overcome or survive. Such as…
- Natural Disasters: tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, wild fires, mudslides, hurricanes, bitterly cold winters, floods, avalanches, droughts, and the list goes on.
- Epidemics: Influenza, Tuberculosis, Smallpox, the Black Death, etc.
- Famines: The Great Famine, Bengal Famine, Chalisa Famine, etc. (wrong time periods but you get the point)
- War: Millions to choose from…
- Work Related Accidents: shipwrecks, mining accidents, hunting accidents, shepherd trampled by a heard of stampeding sheep…
…Just making sure you’re still awake.
The point is-there would have been a TON of things Noah would have had to survive long enough to have his children. If he did not survive the above, your behind wouldn’t be sitting comfortably in your computer chair, sofa, etc. reading this blog.
You would never have existed.
Now let’s take it a step further. Think about all the decisions we make on a daily basis that change the course of our lives. Sometimes they are big choices-Will I pick up and move to another state? Will I quit my job and start my own business? Other times the choices you make seem small and not worth remembering. However, in the grand scheme of things, those little choices can lead to major changes in our life. Will I stay in tonight or will I go to my friend’s party where I will meet my future husband?
So let’s look back at Noah for a second.
- Maybe he decided to take on a job other than the one he chose?
- Maybe instead of working on the family farm he decided to join the military?
- Maybe he decided to move to another town, village or country instead of staying put?
- Maybe he decided to marry another woman before getting the chance to meet your 10th great grandmother?
- Maybe he did marry your 10th great grandmother but instead of them having 5 kids they decided to have 3…and your 9th great grandfather would have been their 4th child?
The point being-if Noah made any choices differently (major ones or little ones that added up to major change) it could have put his life on a completely different path which may have ended with you never existing.
Now lets take this even further…
You have two parents…
Four grand parents…
Eight great grandparents…
Sixteen 2nd great grand parents…
And 32 3rd great grand parents…
Stopping there for now, that’s a total of 62 people you directly descend from.
Had any one of those 62 people not survived the uncontrollable or made decisions other than the ones they made-any ONE of them… You would not exist. And let’s not forget-the same is true about the hundreds of thousands of others I didn’t have the space to represent in restroom symbol people.
So, for those who insist on asking, “Genealogy? Really? What’s the point? What does some guy who died decades ago have to do with me?”
One word…
Everything.
Are you one of the guilty people who found genealogy to be pointless and have a change of heart? Are you a newbie and hadn’t thought of the above? Been at it awhile and have something to add?! Don’t be shy-comment below! I love to hear from you guys.