When I was first starting my research I had plenty of help -- much of it from strangers. People I had met only through email took cemetery photos, did quick lookups or shared their research with me with no expectation of a return. In the years since I've tried to make it a point of doing the same thing for others and performing little acts of genealogical kindness where I can. Most recently I've tried to become more involved in tracking down loving homes for "discovered" family history items. Some include a family photo album I rescued from a Vermont antique shop; the living family members of a young soldier shot down during WWII for a English woman who had mementos to share with them; and a mysterious box full of family history items found among the book donations at a Ohio library. The warm, fuzzy feeling I got from finding descendents who would cherish these precious family history items is usually better than the elation I experience when I have a breakthrough in my own family history research!

Take some time during the coming year, if you can, to give back to the family history community, including all of those misguided souls out there who have not yet discovered the fun of genealogy. Sign up with a helpful group such as Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness or rescue a "lost" photo album or family Bible from your local antique store or flea market. You'll love the feeling of satisfaction it gives you!