Hello GenTravelers!
Do you keep a gratitude journal? I do! Although, I’m not saying I write in it every single day! :o)
I also try not to keep my gratitude to myself. If someone does something kind for me, I try and remember to tell them thank you, or send them a card, or some such thing. I recently read the article “Road Trip For Road Blocks” in the July/August YouGenealogyToday magazine. The article, written by Karena Elliott gave some tips on successful GenTraveling. Most were common sense suggestions, like go to the courthouse…go to the local library….see if they have a historical society in the area. BUT, there was one tip that I want to implement on my next GenTraveling trip – and that is to buy a few gift cards, maybe from the local coffee shop to give to people who are especially helpful. Isn’t that a very good idea?
Funny thing: I traveled to upstate New York a few years ago, and the local history librarian at the Utica Public Library was a very helpful gentleman! When I got home, I quickly wrote him a thank you note and popped it in the mail. (I still have a few cards left from that package…so yep, I took the photo above, so you could see what a cute card I sent, haha!) Anyway!…two years later, I went on another GenTraveling trip to upstate NY and stopped in at the same library. My “helpful gentleman” wasn’t there, but I did noticed a familiar card pinned to a bulletin board! Still there after 2 years!!!
Today’s lesson: First, be grateful for kind and helpful people. Second, don’t keep your gratitude to yourself!
Good luck with your research and let me know if you’re planning any trips to where your ancestors actually lived. I’d LOVE to hear about it!
