Wednesday's Words of Wisdom - Getting ready for Thanksgiving.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom - not a usual entry but how about if we do a couple of things leading up to Thanksgiving in the USA (if you live in another country feel free to follow along!).

(1) Spend more time with family and friends and less time with social media and games this holiday weekend. Tune out the noise and connect - have a few quiet moments when you can ask questions or have a relative share a story (and please record it - lots of voice recorders on those smart phones).

How many of us would love to be able to hear the voices of our ancestors - grandparents, great grandparents, uncles & aunts? Well future generations will feel the same way - so take a few moments and just do it!

(2) Realize we all have triggers - whether that is the economy, the election, religion or "fill in the blank." How about this Thanksgiving season we pull back from those triggers and just enjoy family and friends. Make your Thanksgiving table a "trigger free zone."

(3) When the meal is complete - suggest that everyone help clear the table. And then get in there and help with the clean-up. That is usually the time that one or two family members end up doing all the work - this year start of new tradition - helping after the meal!

(4) Great idea mentioned by David Lambert of NEHGS - use an old tablecloth (or a new special purpose one) to draw out the family tree OR share what you are thankful for OR share memories of past Thanksgivings - all you need is a tablecloth and some fabric pens - sharpies will do (crafters are always at the ready).

(5) Be thankful for the family and friends around your table and your extended family and friends who are not able to join you. So often we forget in all the hustle and prep for the big day. Why not take a few moments this weekend to send a note (snail mail NOT email) to family and friends at a distance.

(6) And give some thought to your #familyhistory and #genealogy education for the coming year - why not ask for (or spring for) a subscription to Legacy Family Tree Software webinar series. There is so much available (recorded and archived) and no doubt Geoff Rasmussen is going to wow us again in 2017. Here at LVUG Community we love our software (and version 9 is somewhere on the horizon - I'm waiting patiently) and we love to learn. The price of admission is a steal when you consider that we can learn from the comfort of our homes. On a budget? Then be consistent about watching live or during that first free week. Either way - let's put learning on our 2017 list of things to do.

Now I'm closing down my social media so I can finish a bit of cleaning, make my contribution to our family dinner (the dessert), and write a few notes to mail on November 25.

Have a wonderful holiday (or just a great Thursday to our LVUG members around the world). I have my questions (from this week's Tuesday's Tip) printed up to use as place setting conversation starters - I will be adding the responses to the individual events/facts after the holidays.

Safe journey for those of you traveling

Slow down and enjoy!