Today is Vincent van Gogh’s 172nd birthday. Seems everybody loves van Gogh, but few can pronounce his Dutch name correctly. And even fewer know that nobody really cared about him or his work when he was alive. The poor man died heartbroken and impoverished. You can count on a couple fingers the number of paintings he sold in his life. It wasn’t until his late brother’s widow started actively promoting Vincent’s work years after Vincent’s death that anyone took notice.
Family tree? Think again. And your heritage is likely far more diverse that you imagine. March 8th is Genealogy Day, so here’s a little math exercise for you ahead of the day.
After doing the math, think of all the cousins you have. (I just might be a distant cousin.)
I know that I have millions and millions of distant genetic cousins because of my DNA markers and all the genealogical research others have done on some my more notable ancestors. (Especially some ancestors who were clueless seasick sectarian passengers on a crappy off-course cargo ship in 1620.) Then add in my Native American ancestors who had lived in the “New World” for thousands of years, plus all my other ancestors from Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Scandinavia, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and Brazil. And then there are my Neanderthal ancestors to count.
What’s your genetic heritage? And did you know that genealogy can help in preventing hereditary cancer?
Knowledge is power. Nobody should die of a preventable cancer. Nobody!
Download a free Family Health/Cancer History Pedigree at www.genetionary.org
Knowing and sharing your family's health history with your health care providers and your family (children, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and first and second cousins) can be life-saving.
Knowledge is truly power when comes to preventing hereditary cancer. So, I have a created a hereditary cancer prevention resource with a little assistance from a certified genetic counselor and educator. It is professionally designed and printed, and I will try to make it available for free to as many people as possible.
