This postMy mother’s aunt died a year ago and so I stopped by the BYU family history center to prepare her name for the temple (TempleReady isn’t working from the genealogy lab where I work). As soon as I opened the door, the spirit was almost tangible, and I was struck with a desire to spend more time working on my genealogy. You know, it’s funny — with so many good things, we avoid them but as soon as we actually do whatever it is, we wonder why on earth we ever hesitated. Genealogy’s like that. And asking girls out. And plenty of other things, I’m sure. :)
Anyway, more and more I’m realizing how important it is to get past that wretched doorkeeper and just do it. Do genealogy. Write that novel. Call that friend. Ask that girl out. Sure, it’s hard, but that’s life. And it’s so worth it.
So now I’m wondering how I’m actually going to make time for digging up my roots. It’s something I love, but somehow I end up going months at a time without doing a thing. Constant reminders? (Reading quotes about family history seems to resurrect my passion for it.) A scheduled block of time each week? Something like this, I think. Once I get some momentum, it’s easy to keep it up; it’s just the getting started that’s hard. But are we going to let a little difficulty stop us? That’s what wimps do. Great people thrive on difficulty, because they overcome each obstacle in turn, plowing through their trials instead of running away from them. And with each step they become greater and greater, eventually becoming like God. In a way I’m grateful for my trials — at least for the strength I get when I conquer them. Opposition is never fun, but the sweet joy that comes when you climb out of the pit and onto the summit is unbeatable.
