An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan
Like many of you, I am not sorry to see 2009 end. I would have pushed it out months ago, if that was possible.
It was a year filled with worry, change, and unpleasant challenges, but it was also a year filled with amazing growth, both for me personally, and for my family. I've made so many wonderful friends through blogging and attending genealogy conferences, and I feel that I've made a great deal of progress in my genealogical education.
Plus, my daughter was potty-trained. Everything else is gravy.
What will 2010 bring? Hopefully more of the good stuff and less of the bad stuff.
Ambiguous, I know, but at this point, resolutions for next year are difficult to make. You see, I've agreed to take on a new "job" for a lineage group, and I don't know quite yet how time-intensive it will be, or how it will affect my goals for the year. What I do know is that there will be more paperwork and more travel - to which I'm actually looking forward (to the travel, not the paperwork). I'll have more to say about this in a couple of months.
That being said, there are a few genealogically-related things that I would like to accomplish in the coming year. In no particular order:
- Finally find the date of death and place of burial for Dennis Daniel DELANEY, my great-great grandfather. Find the place of burial for his wife, Nellie (Coyne/Coin) DELANEY. I'm closing in on these goals - a few phone calls might do the trick!
- Finish up work for the ProGen2 Study Group. We've had a wonderful ride, and I've truly enjoyed working with my peer group and our leaders. The end is in sight... about another 5 months to go!
- Complete the NGS American Genealogy: Home Study Course. Miles to go here.
- Attend the National Institute of Genealogical Research (NIGR) , as well as the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)-Knoxville and the Southern California Genealogical Society's (SCGS) Jamboree. If I'm really lucky, I'll also make it to the California Family History Expo in Pleasanton.
- Attend the N.S.C.A.R. National Convention and the DAR Continental Congress, as well as state conferences for both groups. Try to attend a few SAR meetings, as well, and hopefully drag my husband along for the ride.
- Prove that my John S. Brown was, in fact, a Confederate soldier, and submit an application to the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) so I no longer have to hide from them at the SCGS Jamboree.
- Prove that my John Blanton was, in fact, a soldier during the War of 1812, and submit an application to the Daughters of 1812 so I can stop hiding from them. as well.
- Find a sitter and actually attend meetings for some of the other groups to which I belong.
- Take a side trip from Knoxville to Greeneville, TN for some research time.
- Do more writing and lecturing.
- Start a new blog. Yeah, I know; I need a new blog like I need a hole in my head, but I think it's a good idea, and you'll like it. :-)
- Get organized, and start a new database with COMPLETE source citations.
- Get those old photos scanned!
- Improve my CSS web design skills. Yes, I build web sites. I just don't talk about it a lot.
- Make time to READ. This is a habit I've all but given up since my daughter came along, but hopefully I'll be able to find a little more time for it next year.
However, my #1 goal for the year is to get healthy. It's become painfully obvious to me that if I'm going to accomplish any of my goals - and keep up with my turbo-charged daughter - I need to take better care of myself. This was actually my one and only goal for last year, but I got a bit sidetracked with that herniated disc thing. It's difficult to focus on fitness when you're busy figuring out how to lift a coffee cup.
Plus - and I'm sure you moms out there will agree - it's hard to find time for yourself when you're caring for a small child. *I* don't even make it onto my list most days. But for my sake - and my family's - I've got to try harder. Let's face it: I'm not getting any younger here. Time's a-wastin'.
How am I going to accomplish any of this? I'm not quite sure yet, but my copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
is sitting (still unfinished) on my nightstand, and my Franklin Planner is next to me. Guess it's time to start planning!I wish you the best of luck in accomplishing YOUR genealogy - and life - goals for 2010!
Written for the 87th Edition, Carnival of Genealogy: "New Year's Resolutions!"
Vintage clip art from The Graphics Fairy.
