Marriage is a big step, so it’s important to know your partner well. For most couples, this encompasses likes and dislikes, personality traits, personal values, etc. But thanks to the Internet, you can go beyond that and learn more about your future spouse and in-laws by exploring their complete lineage in a few short clicks using GenealogyBank.
If you think that feels like snooping, then do it with your partner! It’s a fun activity to do together, a great bonding experience as you explore the lives of the men and women who came and lived before you both. Once you have children, you can make it a family activity as well.
Aside from being fun, looking up ancestral trees can be a rewarding endeavor.
- Excitement of Learning
The thrill of learning never ceases. This is augmented when it involves people who are directly connected to you, and helped shape your world. Everyone has a story to tell, and your ancestors had their own adventures. Considering how chaotic and volatile the past is with wars, uprisings, and conflicts, you’ll be adding to your knowledge of general history as well.
- Wisdom from Other People’s Experiences
It’s true what they say: experience is the best teacher. But that wisdom isn’t exclusive to your own experience. You and your partner can learn from the lives of your ancestors, see what worked for them and what didn’t. Though they lived in a different time, they still went through similar milestones like becoming adults, falling in love, getting a job, getting married, and starting a family. If there are recurring patterns, you’ll also be able identify them and see how you can avoid them (if they’re bad) or apply them to your life (if they’re good).
- Understanding the Past
Generation gap is a real thing. Due to differences in values and beliefs, younger folks can have difficulty connecting with their elders and vice versa. Of course, with a little effort on both sides, you can start bridging the gap by taking the time to understand the circumstances under which your elders built their lives. Understanding what influenced their motivations, character, and outlook in life will cultivate open-mindedness on your end. Also, being reminded that they were young once will help you see them as people who had hopes and dreams, just like you and your partner do now.
- Appreciation for the Present
Who you are is the product of previous generations of people whose paths crossed and whose lives intertwined. Without them, you wouldn’t be where you are, for better or worse. So many people came before you, with each one making their own choices as they went along, and yet somehow, all their actions led to you being born. What if one of them made a different decision, like staying in their home country instead of migrating to a new one? Where would you have been? Now that’s some food for thought. The same is true for your partner and their ancestors.
- Inspiration to Do Better for the Future
If you can look up your heritage with ease, your descendants will surely be able to do the same sometime in the future. Wouldn’t it be cool to give them something to talk about? Wouldn’t it be great if you can serve as their role model down the line? Knowing that your great-great-great grandchildren will have access to records on you and your partner should give you the motivation to live the best life you can achieve together. You won’t be around anymore to see it, but think about how proud you’d feel to you find out you have an ancestor who was a war hero, or a famous scientist, or renowned author. Your descendants will share that same feeling of pride when they come across your accomplishments.
You and your partner are sharing the present and will share the future. It only makes sense to share the past as well.
