Those who remember older relatives are bequeathed a sacred gift: their family story. Those memories — the legacy — become incrementally more precious after loved ones are gone. 

And why does it even matter? Christina Baldwin, in her 2005 book “Storycatcher,” explained, “We all need a story to stand on: a core belief that affirms who we are, which we won’t relinquish no matter what.”

Good or bad, it is our story. The reason to explore family history begins with us and journeys to the past. That others may find value beyond our lives is a side benefit.

As the author of three books about my family, I’ve learned the ropes of genealogy through trial and error. I’ve learned that you can uncover stories that will send shivers down your spine, as I did when learning my Virginia ancestors were enslavers in the 18th century. 

What do you want to accomplish in telling your family story? Curt Sylvester, president of the Indiana Genealogical Society, tells the beginner, “Start with yourself and tell the story from your experience. Then move back one generation at a time. At each generation, record the story of your direct ancestor, and then share about other family…