Resolutions – through the years

Ahhh…the last topic of the year. What will it be?  Yes, of course, resolution.  I think it’s safe to say that every one of your immigrant ancestors who came to America had the same resolution…to find a better life, opportunity, and after the penning of our Constitution, life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

As the years go on, our resolutions become more individualized; to survive, keep the children fed, move closer to family, and strike out and find opportunity further west.

Modern resolutions include less majestic motivations; lose weight, find a new job, quit smoking, be kinder…

We don’t have any stories that have been saved through time detailing the specifics of any resolution a particular ancestor had. But we can record our own.  Mine is to stay in my own lane (figuratively speaking), and the obvious “lose weight”, and this time I am determined to follow through.  Wish me luck.

As for genealogy specific resolutions. I think it will be to get my source citations in order and centrally recorded, to advance my understanding of DNA and use it to break through at least one brick wall, and continue this blog.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr