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From: "Michael Donnally" <>
Subject: Genealogy -- A lesson in perception
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 07:34:32 -0400

Genealogy Community:



Why do we seek out our ancestors with such passion? Why do we spend countless moments tying to grasp the character of those from our ancestral past with thoughts like: "Who were they, what did they do, what trails and tribulations did they face in their days draped in flesh"? I am sure it is different with each of us, but I wish to share my feelings with you. I will admit to being an underling with only a few years searching out the many lines that ultimately made me who I am today. Yet, during those few years on reflecting my purpose for doing it -- I have realized I have drifted off course.



I thought I was spending hours upon hours in various locations like libraries, genealogy societies, and my vehicle documenting the history of past lives for my children to teach them about the sacrifices those before them had made. I have tried to put faces on names and sometimes names on faces. I have vainly stumbled around attempting to learn about the things that matter the most.

I wanted to know things that I could not possible find like, "what were their fears, passions, hates, dreams, and trials they engaged through life". I wanted to be inside their minds trying to experience what they did. I would sit in Bossard Library reading various family histories and the same thing seemed missing. I wanted to know these people better than this. After many months I came to the realization that my ancestors were never one to express their feelings as most it seems of the time.

I have come to the conclusion that we as current day researches - living and breathing beings can remedy some of those vexing questions that batter the conscience. We need to sit back and transcribe our lives events for OUR descendants. We need to tell them how we felt. We need to put pen to paper and explain our lives to them with our own words. We need to be honest. Tell our followers about the most pivotal moments in our lives - how it effected us - how it evolved our spirit - and how it was left for them to draw what wisdom they can from it. Share with them when darkness had hold of us so they might learn that through persistence they too can survive a storm. Call it a short autobiographical or a confessional or a journal if you will. I will call it a Testament In Life.

Let our descendants learn from our mistakes. Let them look within us as we are unable to look within those we seek to form kinship with. Words are powerful tools from the mind. They may die off like all things of flesh and bone, but those words can carry our spirits forth into the future and leave an endless legacy for generations...



Michael P Donnally

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• Genealogy -- A lesson in perception by "Michael Donnally" <>