Imagine how fun it would be for your great-great-great grandkids (there could be more than 3,000 of them) to receive a letter from one of their ancestors who lived several hundred years ago.
Before you brush this idea off, please stop and think about it. From your point of view, how would you like a personalized letter from an ancestor who lived several hundred years ago? It's one of those concepts that's a little hard to grasp. We live in the "here and now" and have a difficult time thinking about something that far down the road. Once again, it all comes down to the same old question. What to write? Probably the best response to that would be another question. What would you would like to hear from your own progenitors? Those are the very things that your own grandkids would like to know about you. Like...What was day to day life like for them? Did they have any hobbies, or interests? How was school? What kinds of things did they do when they were bored. Who did they hang out with? What did they do with their friends? Did they ever get into trouble? Where did they go for fun? What were clothing styles like back then? Where did they shop? What was the big news stories of their day? Did they have any personal challenges in life? Any tragedies? Do they have any regrets? Would they like to change anything about their life? Anyway...Enough talk, just sit down and write the letter, then print it off. Put it into a big manila envelope and throw it into a box with all of your important records. Worried that no one will find it? Just write really big on the outside of your envelope... PRIVATE BUSINESS! KEEP OUT! DO NOT READ! Trust me, the letter will not be lost and will probably be read multiple times as the years goes by. Which is really what you want, right? Thirty minutes of your time is a small price to pay for something that will literally be priceless for generations to come. Word Bank - journal; personal history; memories; autobiography; posterity; questions; life-cycle; generations; changes; understanding; family; lessons; teaching; learning; reflections; interview; values; mysteries; genealogy; links |
May we prompt you? 
1. How can knowing more about your great-grandparents help you live a better life?
2. Think of five questions you'd like to ask someone from your family history. 3. How has new technology helped (or hindered) our ability to record important details for future generations. 4. Research your family history, write a character sketch of someone what you find interesting and would like to learn more about. 5. Interview an older family member with questions that will help you better understand your connection with the past. 
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