Roots & Routes: Exploring Genealogy's Enchanted Garden
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." - Shunryu Suzuki
Martial Arts & Genealogy? YES!
I studied martial arts for years and Bruce Lee was a major influence. In her book, Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee, Shannon Lee distills her dad’s wisdom beautifully. This applies to genealogy as well.
Fluidity: She emphasizes how Bruce Lee saw water as a metaphor for adaptability. Water can flow or it can crash, and Bruce believed that we should be like water, able to adapt to any situation without rigidity.
Adaptability: Shannon often talks about how her father applied the concept of water to martial arts and life in general. He believed in being flexible and open to change, able to shift direction and respond to challenges with ease.
Resilience: Bruce Lee saw water's ability to overcome obstacles as a key aspect of its power. Similarly, he encouraged people to persevere through difficulties and setbacks, flowing around obstacles rather than resisting them head-on.
Family History/Genealogy Mentors
While it's important to approach genealogy with a beginner's mind, embracing curiosity and openness to new discoveries, it's also important to seek guidance and learn from those who have honed their skills and expertise over time. There are some awesome Genealogy Mentors out there! These folks are like the seasoned explorers of our genealogical world—they've been around, learned a ton, and are ready to share their wisdom.I've had the pleasure of hanging out with, learning from, or just chatting with these amazing individuals. They're not just experts; they're also super friendly and supportive, making them perfect guides for our family history adventure. Here’s a partial list:
Elizabeth Shown Mills - She’s set the bar high and has been recognized as "the genealogist who has had the greatest impact on American genealogy in the post-Roots era.”
Lisa Louise Cooke - check out her podcast and her YouTube channel
Scott Fisher - host of Extreme Genes podcast
Maureen Taylor - The Photo Detective
Diahan Southard - “Your DNA Guide”
Genealogy Websites
Check out the 101 Best Genealogy Websites of 2023 on Family Tree Magazine for a comprehensive list.
My go-to sites are Cyndi’s List (free), Family Search (free), and Ancestry (subscription).