When it comes to your genealogy research, are you in it for the process or the results? I got to thinking about that question recently when I was teaching a client how to process her genealogy source documents in Reunion. When you’re first starting, it can be a slow process. It definitely gets easier.
As we were working through some documents, she asked me how long it takes me to process a document. (The answer to that question, of course, is “It depends on the document.”) Then she asked, “Does it get faster?”
As a new genealogist, she understood that it’s necessary to analyze and glean information from all her documents (and create a source citation) if she wants to be a researcher, not just a searcher. But she was finding progress to be frustratingly slow. I had to break it to her that, even for experienced researchers, genealogy is a marathon, not a sprint.
That got me thinking: Am doing this for the process or the results? I realized that, speaking personally, it’s about the process for me. I think that’s because I don’t feel there’s a finish line with my genealogy research. There’s always more to learn about my ancestors and I really enjoy the process of discovery. And I actually like the painstaking process of the documentation that follows the discovery.
I’m also a knitter and we have this same discussion in knitting. When I start a project, am I doing it for the finished product or for the enjoyment of the knitting? The answer to that question can inform what projects I take on. A Fair Isle sweater would be (for me) a bear to knit, but if I love them and would wear one with pride, it’s worth the effort. That’s not the kind of knitter I am, however. For me, in knitting as in genealogy, it’s all about the process. I have any number of hand-knit garments, shawls and bags that I ended up rarely using. But I sure loved making them.
How about for you? When it comes to your genealogy research, do you enjoy the process or are you in it for the results? (Or perhaps there’s a whole different element I’m not thinking of.) I’d love to hear.
If the question is about enjoying the process of adding info to the Reunion program then my answer has to be no – I much prefer the results 🙂 I wish there were ways where we could do copy and paste more within Reunion to avoid all the re-keying which is where mistakes happen
I definitely enjoy the process of researching and recording. Sometimes I get bogged down in a specific source, but it’s worth going slow to get all the data out of it!
I agree, Kim! Thanks for commenting.
My dad was the Chief of Police in our small hometown in Virginia. I think his love of police work definitely affected me. I love the detective work associated with genealogy, the thrill of the hunt, etc. Every time I’m successful in finding what I’m looking for, I like to think somewhere my Dad is looking down and smiling. Just wish I had his skills and patience!
I love that you’re channeling your dad when you do your genealogy research, Donna!
Definitely the process! Which is why I often can’t resist trying to find the answer when someone posts a request on a message board about ancestors who have no connection to me 🙂
I enjoy the process but I am often frustrated with myself because all the information is in MY mind and I need to get better about sharing with my family.
Although I feel satisfied and happy when I locate and enter a particular document for an ancestor, I really enjoy the hunt for information on an ancestor. During the hunt I like to think about what type of life my ancestor was living.