We’re closing out 2024’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge with “Resolution.” I made a resolution at the end of 2023 to do a better job on my blog. The first year I participated in the challenge back in 2022, I only missed a few weeks. Last year in 2023, I missed more than I wanted to. My resolution to publish more blogs this year than last year didn’t work out either.
I figured out why. The first year of the challenge was easy because I’d never written about my ancestors. I often had more than one possibility for each weekly prompt. In 2023, I read over the prompts, and most of my good, immediate ideas were for ancestors I already wrote about and stories I’d already told. This year, it was even worse. It’s difficult not to repeat myself. Not only that, but often I’ll be deep in the weeds with my research, and I don’t want to context switch to write about the weekly prompt. I’d rather write about my latest discovery.
Amy crafts some awesome prompts, but her main goal of the challenge was encouraging us to write consistently. She even reiterates in the group and in her newsletter that no one is required to use her prompts. They're a tool, not a rule. I should listen to her.
In 2025, I resolve to let go of perfectionism – at least as far as the challenge is concerned. If one of the prompts inspires me and I have a story that fits it, I’ll use it. If I don’t, I’ll share a different story. If I’m not motivated to share a story that week, I’ll write a small ancestor bio or transcribe a letter. There’s never a shortage of writing to do in genealogy. It doesn't matter what I write, as long as I'm writing.
Bring on 2025! Let’s see if I can stick to it!
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