Mobile Society

Up until about forty years ago, our society seemed relatively stable: meaning families stayed in the same neighborhood until the children were grown, or at least until they finished high school and moved away to go to college or a university. Extended family lived relatively close and ties were stronger. Children really knew their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Family dinners and reunions were either excitedly anticipated or dreadfully attended. Nevertheless, they were opportunities to renew ties. When available, great-grandparents were included in the associations.
Today, a variety of circumstances cause separation of families: employment opportunities, education, cost of living, etc. Even health concerns prompt changes in the family: moving closer to that medical facility or specialist; weather more suited to the family, whether moving from the heat to the snow, or from the snow to the heat; allergies, etc.
Whatever the reasons for change, families often struggle with the desire to retain their ties with extended relatives and maintain their immediate family structure. The idea of "I'm my own universe" dominates, and family units stay in bubbles, until they join with the rest of the family.
As a result, many people don't know their cousins, aunts, or even grandparents. It's like a tree with very little root, just sitting on the surface of the ground.

A SENSE OF BELONGING/THE BIGGER PICTURE
Because of these changes, the depth and stability of what it means to be a family fades away. A "cousin" is replaced by the friend next door; a "grampa" becomes that nice older man with white hair who always smiles and says hi; a "sister" might be a co-worker to be confided in.
Family associations are important to find balance in one's life, and extended family is essential to adding to that balance. The more one involves themself in immediate family activities and extended family events, the more depth is created. The tree extends it roots deep into the ground which causes the top of the tree to flourish and become stronger.
However, there are circumstances which simply do not allow families and extended families to associate, whether in person, by phone, mail, internet, etc. Where, then, can one still feel a sense of belonging to their family? The answer would be in looking back towards our relatives who've died. Just because they're not standing in front of us doesn't mean they didn't exist. Stories were told about them, laughs were shared, and memories created because of them. The more information that is learned adds to their reality as an individual, and the more meaning is given to their name.
So whether our relatives are living now, or have passed on, we can take advantage of becoming closer to them through building a history. The most common way of doing this is by starting simple - build a pedigree chart.