| Researching your family tree has become a | | | | gotten to know them well in the past. Most likely, |
| popular past time for many people. The thought | | | | they will be happy to share their stories and |
| of getting to know your ancestors and finding out | | | | memories with you. It will make them feel less |
| how they lived, and what their life was like has | | | | lonely, and more like a useful part of the family. |
| enthralled many; and the internet has made it | | | | Visit them as often as you can; if they live too |
| much easier to find vital information. It is akin to | | | | far away, call or write often. |
| assembling a jigsaw puzzle about ancestors, one | | | | Medical history - as you conduct your |
| generation at a time. Most people have dreams of | | | | research, you will most likely come across medical |
| tracing their family tree back to royalty, knights, | | | | information, such as heart conditions, cancer, or |
| or founding fathers. | | | | other hereditary diseases that your ancestors |
| There are other, important benefits to | | | | suffered from. This will give you much needed |
| researching your family tree, however. | | | | information that you can pass on to your own |
| New Friendships - there are countless others | | | | family doctor. |
| online and off researching their own family | | | | Geographical history - not only will you learn |
| histories. What better way to make a new friend | | | | about people, you will learn about places and |
| than find something in common? You can share | | | | interesting times in history. What city was your |
| tips, ideas, and strategies to help each other and | | | | great-grandmother born in? What was it like? |
| build lifelong friendships along the way. | | | | What was the population? Where did she go to |
| Personal Growth - researching and assembling | | | | school? Has the city changed its name since then? |
| information about your ancestors can be a | | | | There is an abundance of information to be found, |
| wonderful project on your own personal growth | | | | not only on whom, but where. |
| and education. You will discover skills you never | | | | Researching your family tree takes time, patience, |
| even knew you had. You will have a sense of | | | | and effort; but the payoff is tremendous. The |
| accomplishment that is unmatched with anything | | | | benefits far outweigh any challenges. It is |
| you have ever known. | | | | something that should be considered a life-long |
| A treasured heirloom to be passed on from | | | | process that is constantly in need of updating as |
| generation to generation - this will be a work in | | | | family members get married, have children, |
| progress, as each new generation will add their | | | | grandchildren, etc. It is something to be treasured |
| information and share their stories and memories, | | | | from generation to generation. Keep a journal of |
| along with photos, journals and other heirlooms. | | | | your progress, as well as various notes and things |
| Getting closer to your living relatives - | | | | you have learned along the way. Someday, you |
| interviewing your oldest living relatives can bring | | | | may be the one being researched, and the more |
| you closer together, especially if you haven't | | | | that you can aid in the process, the better. |