#52Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Proud

Some prompts in Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge immediately inspire a story about a particular ancestor. “Proud” was a tough one. I mean, I’ve already written about some of the ancestors I’m proud to claim – the strong women, determined women, and the hard workers.

Maybe, then, it’s time to toot my own horn and think about some of the reasons I should be proud of what I’ve accomplished.

Genealogically, I’ve filled in some holes in my family tree and my husband’s. I’ve found documents to support the work of my aunts and cousins. I’ve expanded the knowledge we have about not just our direct ancestors, but their siblings and children as well.

Beyond genealogy, which is a recent pursuit, here are some highlights from my life.

I started first grade technically when I was 5, but the school year began when I was 4. I graduated high school, junior college, and college with honors, though I didn’t always apply myself over the years, and I’m still not good with math.

One thing I have always enjoyed is creative writing. I won second place in the third grade poetry contest with this gem:

I have no idea why the judges thought that was was one of the top entries. Maybe they didn’t have much to choose from.

My first job was working in a bookstore (dream job for a voracious reader). I went on to work at two local TV stations, for Walt Disney World, for a community theatre, and for the Sci-Fi Channel (before it was on the air and long before Syfy was a thing).

And I made a movie. Just a short film but it was an amazing experience that fulfilled a childhood dream of directing a movie.

I often find myself thinking of the might-have-beens. The dreams that never came true (and I’m still dreaming). It’s easy to dwell on those things, but taking a moment to remember even the small achievements is a good way to find pride in oneself.