Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Simplifying My Genealogy Life

I'm still here! I didn't forget you.

Things are going pretty well on the home front. The problem I'm having is juggling all the spinning plates. The family is crazy busy as always with a spouse out of the country and a teenager navigating high school. Most days, I'm a taxi, homework warden and cook. It has not been easy. It has been challenging, frustrating and stressful.

The professional side of genealogy is keeping me very busy. I divide time between a long-term project, one medium-term project and some small stuff. It is so fun. I'm doing things I'd never imagined. Thank goodness for library school because I draw on those skills every day.

Naturally, my own ancestral research has taken a back seat, and that depressing me a bit. But something had to give.

It took several months to accept that I couldn't do everything, and that was ok. I went to RootsTech. I talked to friends. I talked to vendors. I learned about new products and spent way too much time in the demo theater. I went to developer sessions even though I'm not a developer. I left feeling recharged and more confident that maybe I could spin all these plates.

Then as I was giving myself a mental pep talk about achieving balance and getting back to blogging, I got this stellar pat on the back from a fellow genealogy blogger.

Yeah. Talk about getting kicked when you're down. Not really a big deal, but not nice either.

So I took another few weeks to sort things out and I started cleaning my genealogy house.

I unfriended several genealogy folks on Facebook who either annoy me or haven't really established a connection in years.

I unfollowed many genealogy Twitter accounts that either just promote their own stuff or duplicate what they say on their Facebook and Google+ accounts.

I took a break from reading genealogy blogs. Sorry! It's just that so many posts were complaints about Ancestry.com or the new FamilySearch web site or other things. I just needed a break from negativity.

I realized that I'm a librarian and approach genealogy as such, so I joined a professional library group to keep my genealogy research skills sharp. My professional development probably won't come from the genealogy community or APG, and that's ok. I know what I need.

Then for another few weeks, I worked and worked on my client stuff. And I yelled at my kid to do his homework. And I dropped off and picked up my husband from the airport every week. The weeks just looked the same and they all flew by.

This is where I am right now. I've simplified my genealogy life. No drama. No nonsense. No cares given whether you count my conference blog posts or not.

My blog started as a conversation with myself so my family wouldn't have to listen to my genealogy stories. It really is written as though I'm seated at a table, talking to a wall. Then an audience found me so I added more seats to the table.

I hope you've enjoyed the conversation and will continue to do so. I think I've managed to find a way to keep all the plates spinning, so blog content should pick up. Thanks for reading.



33 comments:

  1. You sound as if you are describing my life. Different career, similar choices. Good for you.

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  2. Do what you can. I always enjoy your posts. Sometimes life takes over and blogging is down a bit, but when you can share something, you've got followers who enjoy what you have to share.

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    1. Thanks, Elizabeth. I needed to hear that and appreciate your support.

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  3. Amy, your blog is one of the ones I ALWAYS check - you always have something interesting/funny/insightful to say. And when life comes along and keeps you away for a while, that's fine, too. Because that's also my life these days. Not much time for genealogy fun. But, hey, we're also gainfully employed and like what we do. Your decision to avoid/eliminate negativity is also spot on.

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  4. Yikes! As I look at this, you have 666 followers!! Maybe that will change, too. :)

    Curious what library group you joined.

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    1. Ha! I've been at 666 followers for several weeks. I wondered if anyone else would notice.

      I rejoined SLA after many years' absence. I just want access to their wisdom, websites and webinars. I chose GovDocs as my division (you get a free one), so we'll see if that is beneficial in any way.

      I really miss discussion about information and how to get it to people (especially genealogy people). That's not a *thing* in APG, so I'm starting to sniff out library-ish circles again.

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    2. Amy,

      You're at 667 now :-)

      Good for you for eliminating the negativity where you're able. Life is waaay too short!

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  5. I'm in total agreement about exorcising all negativity. Good for you. I'm buying a you a celebratory beer in Burbank. Missed you terribly at NGS.

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  6. Almost the same here Dahling. Lots of client work, no time for blogging. Today I blogged for the first time since February! As for the nitpicker - she knows not what she speak of. i.e. she's a hater and you know what they say about haters - always going to hate.

    I have always and absolutely adored you Amy!

    xxxooo

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  7. Good for you Amy! Taking the time to sort out what's really important is sometimes the best thing we can do. It's unfortunate that a few negative people can have the impact they do. It's even more unfortunate that good people like you take what they say to heart even when it's not worth paying attention to. You have a lot of friends who will always support you. As for the social media "friends," the unfriend option is sometimes the best. I love libraries and all that they represent. I can see why that would appeal to you. I hope we see you at Jamboree. Best wishes!

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  8. All the best Amy. I think the blogpost from the nitpicker shows up more about the negative-Nellie-nitpicker than you. All of your followers can't be wrong:) Thanks for all your generous posts, all of the time and effort you put into your genealogy and for sharing it with us.

    A quote from Facebook that someone added a few days back ... "If someone treats you like s*!t, just remember that there is something wrong with them, not you. Normal people don't go around destroying other human beings"

    -Maria from Australia

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  9. Amy, if there was a Like button on all of the comments above this one, I'd be hitting them! Life is short, do what feels good to you and apologize to no one. I've spent years trying to find my own positive tribe to hang out with. I count you among them.

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  10. Amy, Glad you are OK. I was going to write this week since you weren't at NGS and haven't written for some time. So many times we (parents, spouses, women, etc) have to step back and think about ourselves. Glad you are taking that time. Look forward to seeing you at Jamboree.

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  11. Amy:

    This is a post I needed to read. I've felt so guilty about neglecting my blog and my blog reading list. It's time for me to regroup and simplify my genealogy life too. Thanks for the reminder.....

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  12. I know exactly what you mean about the "spinning plates" syndrome. Every since i started Twitter a year ago along with genealogy research, i've been thinking "How do people do all this?" And a blog too? Webinars? Chats? Hangouts? Reading genealogy books? Saturday night challenges? Videos? What the hey?

    Slowly I realized that people really don't do all this. Everyone has to pare the work down to a sane level. All those voices inside your head telling you that "You really should ..." just have to shut up. Many genealogy tweeps are highly stressed about their work pace, and it just isn't worth it. Nothing is.

    That article from "The Genealogy Nitpicker" was so unfair. I hope you can scrub it out of your mind. It's the same stupid do-everything mentality. If she wants it "done right," she can do it herself.

    My paring-down so far is to blog no more than once a week, along with my family research. That's a finite goal. I like reading and commenting on other blogs, so I do that. But I do none of the other stuff right now.

    I'm just about finished with my "archiving" pile. I want to be totally available when (knock on wood) our first grandchlld arives in August.

    If anyone starts a Sanity in Genealogy club, I'd join. We wouldn't have meetings, because that takes time. We'd just know we're out there. : )))

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  13. Good for you, Amy! I've been thinking many of the same things as you lately. You've inspired me to take some of the steps I've been thinking of!

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  14. "Juggling all the spinning plates"...that's so awesomely visual. And if you've felt like that lately, then good for you for getting rid of some of those plates.

    As a mom of five kids, I totally understand how it is to be a taxi driver, cook, and all the other things that go with having kids. I'm no longer needed as a taxi driver though because my kids are all adults and have graduated from high school now. =)

    I didn't like all those negative blog posts either. Personally, I like the FamilySearch redesign and hey! It's free! And I do like Ancestry.com too.

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  15. Good for you! I've found that's the part of genealogy I struggle with the most. Finding time to "keep up" with the ever-changing landscape, make connections, plus keep the household running. I've scaled back on my blogging too because I stopped doing it for me and was too worried about other people's opinions on what I was doing than my own. So now I'm working on getting back to the roots of my research and finding my blogging voice again, which started as exactly what you said, talking genealogy with myself so that I'd stop boring my family!

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  16. I sooo identify with this. I have learned that when I can't blog/research/read blogs/whatever, I can't. It's no big deal. Nobody cares.

    Someday we'll be old ladies with fewer plates, and then we'll have more time for reindeer games. In the meantime...enjoy the plates.

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  17. And here I thought I was the only one trying to keep the plates from crashing to the ground, Amy. Don't let anyone else's negativity get you down. You're way too fine a juggler for that.

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  18. Amy, you have been an inspiration to me from the beginning....but I understand that sometimes life gets in the way....You are awesome, and good for you for doing what you have to do for you!!!

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  19. Amy, no worries, good for you for finding your balance. it's NOT easy and there are always things that you are going to "let slide" and that's OK....Trust me you are have been and will always be an inspiration to me and I will enjoy your updates regardless if they come daily, or monthly or every six months....

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  20. I want you to know that your blog post is listed in today's Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/05/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-may-17-2013.html

    Have a great weekend!

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  21. How about we drink some Greek wine, have some gyros, and smash some of those spinning plates? . ;) Good for you, Amy.

    ~C

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  22. Just wanted to say hi and tell you that I couldn't agree more with your frustrations. The Genealogical Kleptomaniacs, as I call them, are breeding like rabbits and are gaining an "I know everything because I have an Ancestry account" gene. Hang in there. Their passion will die off eventually and they'll move on to new obsessions. All the best, Kim

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  23. Amy,
    I had lots of blog posts in my reader when I returned from holiday and yours were some that didn't get the Delete treatment.

    I was also incredibly hurt by the comments from that disgruntled blogger but the great thing about social media is that I was able to delete my connections to her.

    I'll always be ready to read when you have time to write. The Railfan will be all grown up before you know it and deserves your attention right now. You've got years to attend to the ancestors.

    Cheers, Jill

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  24. I think that it is good to get some time off from blogging even if it is from time to time. About the article the blogger wrote, just shrug it off. There is a Mexican saying "no soy monedita de horo para caerle bien a todos" translation "I am not a Gold Coin so that I may be liked by everyone".

    Take care,

    Moises Garza

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  25. It takes more courage to simplify than to be a yes woman to everyone. I applaud you for stepping back and doing what you need to do. I know how hard the temporarily single mom thing can be. Just remember you are a Rock Star!!

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  26. The spinning plates analogy is perfect for my life this spring as well! So glad you did some house keeping. Just want you to know, your blog is on my list of "must read" blogs.

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  27. hmmm. Glad you are in the blogsphere, Amy. Family and Family History should be able to coexist. And, you shouldn't have to get beat up to get there.

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  28. I'm late to the party because life has gotten in my way. And I'm okay with that :-) Glad you're paring things down and are doing what's best for you, not everyone else.

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