Welcome July and a new approach to attacking my ever-hopeful and never-ending task list: 3+3!
As I mentioned in my last post and in bits and pieces elsewhere, we family historians tend to be quite passionate about the research and documentation of our families. Sometimes, that passion can turn on us, though, leading to guilt for not accomplishing as much as we might like to due to present time commitments and the wonder and busyness of life in general.
So, I thought I might try something new and, obviously, share it here with you, too. You know, just in case you might find some grace or inspiration in the simplicity of narrowing down your monthly goals into a few, achievable tasks.
Introducing my new approach, 3+3, which will consist of;
- Three accomplishments from the previous month
- Three goals for the current month
That’s it. Easy peasy.
Does that mean I can’t do more? Of course not. I’m simply simplifying in an attempt at setting myself up for success no matter how chaotic life may be.
So, without further adieu, my first accomplishment and goal set:
June 2025 Accomplishments
- Deleted my 23&Me DNA data and closed my account – Mildly sad about the loss of future matches and fun data sets, the uncertainty of their sale and future data privacy weighed heavily on me. The deletion feels right.
- Wrote and submitted my first Author’s Bio – This bio will go alongside the family history piece I wrote earlier this year which will be published in an anthology in late 2025. This is my first official publication and I.am.psyched.
- Reviewed and shared my Paternal Grandpa Art’s letters with my surprise sister – These letters were shared with me by a cousin and offer great insight into our bio-father’s experiences and behaviors as a young teen. Being gifted them was an honor and sharing them allows us to process some big thoughts and feelings together, which is incredibly helpful for our healing.
July 2025 Goals
- Gather documents and details necessary for requesting my Maternal 2x Great Grandpa’s (Isaac C. Graves) Civil War Pension File
- Look for any new DNA matches and review past matches connecting me to my closest Maternal Mystery Match
- Begin a new Heritage Journal spread (I have not touched this journal in many months and it is time to dive in again)
There you have it, my first 3+3. Easy peasy (fingers crossed). Stay tuned for updates.
Do tell, how’s your research and documentation going? How are you approaching your family history goals these days? And, are you being nice to yourself about it all?
Onward,
Melissa