Who inspires you?

This was this weeks topic for GeneaBloggers Open Thread Thursday was:

"Who inspires you?"

Who inspires you when it comes to genealogy and family history? Whether you are on the path to a professional career or setting up a business in the genealogy industry, or you pursue genealogy for the sheer pleasure and challenge, there must be some person, event or thing that inspired you. Let us know your “backstory” of genealogy inspiration.

GeneaBloggers states there is a "catch" however when you reply regarding this subject...

There’s only one rule to this week’s challenge: you can’t list me (Thomas MacEntee) as your inspiration. 

I want this to be positive. I want this to be informative as well as heartfelt.  

I do not generally participate in Open Thread Thursdays, only because of time. However, this topic crossed my path yesterday morning and intrigued me. I have thought on and off about it for a full day now. Let's see what I came up with.

First of all what is the definition of "inspire?" This is the response I received when I Googled "Inspire definition." There were many responses to this inquiry, I chose to use this one from Merriam-Webster - The Free Dictionary.


  1. Fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative: "his enthusiasm inspired them".
  2. Create (a feeling, esp. a positive one) in a person: "inspire confidence".



Let me say, what inspired me yesterday isn't what necessarily inspires me today. I have carefully crafted a list of ten things that have inspired me over the years and/or still inspire me.

  1. Ancestry.com
  2. Thomas MacEntee (oops...was there a "catch" regarding this? I never was one to follow the rules...)
  3. Each of the 40 or so genealogy bloggers that blogged about genealogy before there was GeneaBloggers. They know who they are.
  4. The many wonderful online classes, and now webinars that I have taken over the years.
  5. My own blog.
  6. The cousins who have found me online.
  7. Followers of my blog.
  8. My immediate family.
  9. Questions that pop up in my head.
  10. The TV program in Sweden, "Great Swedish Adventure." (Those who followed the series of posts I wrote about this will understand-Severals posts are listed on the right side of the column starting March 2011. I am starting a new series of posts which you can read about here.
Those are my top ten at this point and time. I could list many more inspirations, but I thought I would limit it to ten. Now, I am off to yet another webinar...


Have you shared your inspirations? If so, please leave a link below, I would love to read to yours!


Thanks for stopping by! 

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!






Photo link~https://www.google.com/search?q=free+to+use+inspirational+photo&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=DBAMUbXrN4mRiQKk9ICwCg&ved=0CEUQsAQ&biw=1191&bih=621#imgrc=UDykavvbe3x18M%3A%3B0KCNL7EW848eFM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffarm4.staticflickr.com%252F3194%252F3034570617_b750b62948_z.jpg%253Fzz%253D1%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.flickr.com%252Fphotos%252Fbluemuf%252F3034570617%252F%3B640%3B549 

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