Human Library

Human Library

The Human Library

The Human Library: Unleashing Living Stories

Human Library Explained in a Minute by Human Library Oranization

When I first stumbled upon this concept some ten-plus years ago, I was instantly hooked. One day I’d like to run a human library. Would you come visit?

In a world where information flows freely through the vast web of the internet, and technology offers us virtual access to knowledge at our fingertips, the concept of the Human Library stands as a unique and profoundly impactful approach to understanding human experiences and fostering empathy. The Human Library is not a traditional library filled with books and shelves; rather, it is a living, breathing library where people are the books, and their life stories become the pages that readers can explore. This innovative approach to human interaction, education, and community building has gained traction worldwide, promoting understanding, breaking stereotypes, and encouraging conversations that lead to profound personal growth and societal change.

History of the Human Library

The idea of the Human Library was born in the late 1990s in Copenhagen, Denmark, through the collaborative efforts of Ronni Abergel, Dany Abergel, Christoffer Erichsen, and Asma Mouna. The founders envisioned a space where human beings could become open books, sharing their life experiences and perspectives with others. Their primary goal was to challenge stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination by fostering meaningful dialogues between diverse individuals.

The first official Human Library event took place in 2000 at the Roskilde Festival, an annual music and arts festival in Denmark. During this event, visitors could “borrow” a human book for a limited period, usually around 30 minutes, engaging in candid conversations about the book’s life experiences, beliefs, and challenges. The concept proved to be a resounding success, sparking interest and enthusiasm among participants and paving the way for the Human Library to expand beyond its Danish origins.

Human Library Movement

At the core of the Human Library lies the belief that storytelling and face-to-face interactions have the power to create understanding, empathy, and positive change. Human beings are complex, and each person’s life story represents a unique narrative worth exploring. By listening to these stories, readers can gain new perspectives, challenge preconceived notions, and break down barriers that divide communities and societies.

The Human Library aims to address stereotypes and prejudices related to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and other social identities. Through authentic human connections, readers have the opportunity to learn from the lived experiences of others and overcome ignorance and fear, ultimately promoting tolerance, respect, and inclusivity.

This transformative experience not only benefits the readers but also empowers the “human books” who can find a sense of empowerment through sharing their stories, being seen beyond their labels, and knowing they contribute to building a more understanding and compassionate society.

Borrow a Human Book

Creating a Human Library requires careful planning, organization, and community involvement. Below are the essential steps to set up a successful Human Library:

1. Define the Purpose and Theme:

Begin by defining the purpose of your Human Library and the specific stereotypes or prejudices you aim to address. Determine the theme that will guide the selection of human books and ensure a focused and impactful event.

2. Build a Diverse Team:

Assemble a diverse organizing team that represents different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. A variety of viewpoints will enhance the planning process and ensure a more inclusive event.

3. Engage with the Community:

Reach out to local organizations, community groups, educational institutions, and individuals to generate interest and support for the Human Library. Collaboration and partnerships are crucial for a successful event.

4. Recruit Human Books:

Identify potential human books who are willing to share their personal stories. Recruit individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences, making sure to respect their boundaries and comfort levels.

5. Training and Support:

Provide training and support for the human books to help them effectively share their stories and handle potentially sensitive or challenging conversations. Offer guidance on boundaries and self-care during and after the event.

6. Venue and Logistics:

Secure an appropriate venue that can accommodate the event’s size and layout. Arrange for comfortable seating and privacy to facilitate one-on-one conversations between human books and readers.

7. Implement a Borrowing System:

Design a borrowing system that allows readers to select human books they would like to engage with. Allocate specific time slots for conversations to ensure a smooth flow of the event.

8. Supportive Environment:

Create a safe and respectful environment for all participants. Implement guidelines for behavior and ensure a supportive atmosphere free from judgment and hostility.

9. Facilitate Conversations:

Have facilitators available to assist readers and human books during their conversations. Facilitators can intervene if discussions become too challenging or guide participants towards deeper understanding.

10. Post-Event Evaluation:

Conduct post-event evaluations to gather feedback from participants, human books, and readers. Learn from the experience to improve future Human Library events.

Human Library Conversation

The Human Library stands as a powerful testament to the enduring potential of human connection and storytelling to dismantle prejudices, promote empathy, and foster social cohesion. From its humble beginnings in Denmark to its global expansion, the Human Library continues to inspire and transform communities by challenging the status quo and encouraging authentic conversations between individuals from diverse walks of life. As we navigate an ever-changing world, the Human Library remains a beacon of hope, reminding us of the immense power we hold as compassionate and open-minded human beings, capable of rewriting our collective narratives for a more inclusive and understanding future.

Let me know your thoughts on this concept. You can reach me at hello@aprilbell.com

Blog Post Author:

April Bell is a Professional Personal Historian and founder at Tree of Life Legacies. She has been operating her storytelling and wisdom keeping project in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the United States since 2008. April utilizes her innate skills as an active listener to connect with others and draw out their stories and authentic, heartfelt values to be preserved and shared for generations to come. Her clients include individuals, families and organizations who value the power of story. In an effort to provide the gift of video storytelling to the world at large via a simple, fun and easy to use tool, she and her business partner, iPhone app coder Urs Brauchli, released StoryCatcher® for iPhone. Available on the Apple App Store.

My Life in Paragraphs on Amazon
My Life in Paragraphs card deck

Fifty-Two Life Story Prompts

What are your struggles and triumphs, failures and successes? Where have you been, and who have you loved deeply? This book offers fifty-two provocative life story prompts to unearth the path you’ve walked and the moments you’ve held dear. It also guides you through telling your stories, one paragraph at a time, even if you don’t like to write. Explore your life with an open heart, and you’ll be gifted insights—and connections with loved ones—you’ll forever cherish.

by April Bell

StoryCatcher for iOS

Get StoryCatcher® on The Apple App Store

Easily create and share personal video stories. Your privacy is number one – once you download the app, you have 100% control over your media and data. My business partner, Urs Brauchli, and I started our co-creation of this app in 2011 to help people like you share more stories.

Finding Magic in Everyday Life

Finding Magic in Everyday Life

Finding Magic in Everyday Life

Spoken word version

In the spring of 2013, I stumbled into the most powerful bit of magic I have ever known. Ever since I can remember, I’ve searched for ways to find magic in everyday life. I’ve dabbled in all sorts of metaphysical concepts, from reading tarot cards to practicing mindfulness. But on this particular day, all my seeking would coalesce in a singular moment, leaving me forever changed.

In the early fall of 2012, I was likely the most physically fit I’ve ever been. My best friend had signed us up for a Tough Mudder race in Lake Tahoe. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a 12 mile obstacle course out in the woods designed by special forces types. It’s created for people who want to push their physical and mental limits. It’s also built around teamwork and camaraderie, which makes it a lot of fun.

In anticipation of all we’d have to navigate, I‘d trained hard and it paid off. On race day, my body effortlessly carried me through the experience. It was truly one of the most fun days of my life!

So now fast forward to the following spring; I’m out on a trail run near my house with a different group of friends, and I’m bringing up the rear. Barely into the first mile, my legs feel like lead, my breathing is labored, and I’m wondering what the hell has happened to my fun and fit body that ran this same five mile route dozens of times while I trained for that Tough Mudder race?

To put it lightly, I’m not having fun.

As I’m trudging along the trail, staring at my shoes as they drag across the dirt in what seems like slow motion, I’m listening to this internal dialogue utter a litany of reasons as to why and how I’m failing.

As I’m trudging along the trail, staring at my shoes as they drag across the dirt in what seems like slow motion, I’m listening to this internal dialogue utter a litany of reasons as to why and how I’m failing. It’s saying things like;

“Look at you, you’re so out of shape!”

“You’re never going to catch up to them!”

“Last year you ran this route like it was nothing. It’s going to take you forever to get back to that level of fitness.”

“You are lame for being so lazy and allowing this to happen.”

On and on it went.

And then, all of the sudden, I hear a different voice interrupt, “What if you notice what’s good right now?”

It was like that moment when you hear a needle scratch across a vinyl record. It really caught my attention. And I was like, “Oh yea….being grateful, hmmmm….”

I had a daily gratitude practice during this time, which I would use to help start my day off on a positive note. It was pretty simple really; each morning while sipping my coffee, I’d write down 10 things I’m grateful for.

I had a daily gratitude practice during this time, which I would use to help start my day off on a positive note. It was pretty simple really; each morning while sipping my coffee, I’d write down 10 things I’m grateful for.

I decide to listen to “the nicer voice.” I lift my head, look around, and begin to internally enumerate all that’s good about the moment.

“I’m grateful for this amazing spring day,” the grass on the hills was green and lush, there were wild flowers popping up here and there, and the breeze felt like a delightful warm kiss on my skin.

“I’m grateful that I have a group of friends I can run around outside with,”

“I’m grateful for my strong healthy body and it’s ability to carry me along this trail.”

Pretty quickly, I notice I’m feeling more connected to nature and my friends, and decide to allow myself to enjoy the run, no matter how I perform.

Not long after, I catch up with buddies and we chat and joke about different things for the remaining four miles on the trail.

When we finish, our time keeper, Aldrich, notes our time at 1 hour 10 minutes. And I say, “Wait, what?!? Are you SURE??”

He says, “Yea, I set my timer when we started. See,…” — he holds up his phone showing our total time. One hour, ten minutes.

I couldn’t believe it! My average time running that trail when I was in what I considered ‘good shape’ was 1-hour 15-minutes. We’d finished a full five minutes FASTER than my “in-shape” average!

I couldn’t believe it! My average time running that trail when I was in what I considered ‘good shape’ was 1-hour 15-minutes. We’d finished a full five minutes FASTER than my “in-shape” average!

After that first mile, I hadn’t struggled a single bit, I just had fun!

In that moment, I saw how all the times I had struggled while running that trail in the past were for absolutely nothing. It was all in my head!!

My next thought was this sort of gestalt around all the other places I tend to find struggle in my life. What if I could just choose to be present, enjoy my experiences and have things work out BETTER than when I’m ‘pushing’ or criticizing myself?

That, my friends, would be pure magic!

Blog Post Author:

April Bell is a Professional Personal Historian and founder at Tree of Life Legacies. She has been operating her storytelling and wisdom keeping project in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the United States since 2008. April utilizes her innate skills as an active listener to connect with others and draw out their stories and authentic, heartfelt values to be preserved and shared for generations to come. Her clients include individuals, families and organizations who value the power of story. In an effort to provide the gift of video storytelling to the world at large via a simple, fun and easy to use tool, she and her business partner, iPhone app coder Urs Brauchli, released StoryCatcher® for iPhone. Available on the Apple App Store.

Listen to the audio version of this story

ancient heritage and modern traditions

The middle of our Tough Mudder race in Lake Tahoe.

ancient heritage and modern traditions

Out on a trail run with my gym buddies.

ancient heritage and modern traditions
My Life in Paragraphs on Amazon
My Life in Paragraphs card deck

Fifty-Two Life Story Prompts

What are your struggles and triumphs, failures and successes? Where have you been, and who have you loved deeply? This book offers fifty-two provocative life story prompts to unearth the path you’ve walked and the moments you’ve held dear. It also guides you through telling your stories, one paragraph at a time, even if you don’t like to write. Explore your life with an open heart, and you’ll be gifted insights—and connections with loved ones—you’ll forever cherish.

by April Bell

StoryCatcher for iOS

Get StoryCatcher® on The Apple App Store

Easily create and share personal video stories. Your privacy is number one – once you download the app, you have 100% control over your media and data. My business partner, Urs Brauchli, and I started our co-creation of this app in 2011 to help people like you share more stories.

Leaning into Ancient Heritage and Modern Traditions

Leaning into Ancient Heritage and Modern Traditions

Ancient Heritage and Modern Traditions

 

How one family with eclectic views comes together to celebrate their mutual ties

My mom really enjoys the holiday season. I should say seasons. She likes all the holidays. She loves to go all out in December, though. Which inspires my brother, his family, and myself to really enjoy it, too. We have a unique tradition we celebrate that has become a family favorite over time. It’s our way of honoring our own ancient heritage and modern traditions. It’s a nice mash up for a modern family seeking meaning inside the commercialized societal traditions we are ‘encouraged’ to celebrate. I’ll just leave that one there. You can fill in the blank as to your view on how we’re ‘encouraged.’

For us, it all goes off the rails pretty quickly in regard to fitting with popular culture’s expectations. My brother, his wife, and my niece are practicing Nichiren Buddhists. My niece is Japanese-American, and my sister-in-law is Japanese. My brother has been practicing buddhism for thirty-five years now. I tend to find my own spiritual solace and connection in nature; it’s a large part of my life and deeply important to me. It feeds my soul. My mom hasn’t set foot in a Christian Church service for likely 40 years, but she still reveres the traditions she grew up with. She’s not alone, we enjoy it, too.

Ancient Heritage

Her parents, my grandparents, were of Nordic descent – Danish and Finnish. As a family, we’ve always felt very connected to our Viking and Scandinavian roots. I was lucky enough to know and remember my Finnish great-grandmother, whom we called Mumu. She came to America on her own when she was just 13 years old. She passed away when I was five, but I recall her ‘babushka-like’ presence, and visiting her house in Berkeley that had an ice box for the refrigerator and a stove that was wood burning in her kitchen.

I recall her ‘babushka-like’ presence, and visiting her house in Berkeley that had an ice box for the refrigerator and a stove that was wood burning in her kitchen.

My mom is an artist, and while I was growing up in the ‘70s, she would make our family’s group holiday gift each year with her own two hands. All who received her creations would oooh and ahhh over her creativity. One year she created this really unforgettable framed piece of art. She had to drive all the way to Vallejo to procure her main implement, a large fresh caught fish with its head intact. This fish also had to be of a “pleasing” shape and the right length. With her artist’s implement, the 12 or so inch fish, she applied ink all over one side of its body and then used it as a stamp onto a piece of rectangular tinfoil. What was produced was a really cool and detailed impression of the fish on the foil. You could see each scale, and most cool of all, it’s eye gazing out at you. She then matted and framed it, and that was the gift. She made all kinds of other interesting things over the years, stained glass windows, ceramics, and so on; but that fish sticks out in my mind.

Modern Traditions

Fast forward to more recent years and her artistic holiday creations have morphed to be quite culinary. These days we begin the holiday season by celebrating Santa Lucia Day, which for us, consists of drinking glögg in candlelight, feasting on my mom’s smorgasbord, and listening to Big Band music from the ‘30s and ‘40s while we trim her Christmas tree. This tradition is so layered for all of us, and I believe it’s the favorite party of the season for all.

These days we begin the holiday season by celebrating Santa Lucia Day, which for us, consists of drinking glögg in candlelight, feasting on my mom’s smorgasbord, and listening to Big Band music from the ‘30s and ‘40s.

My mom takes the opportunity to prepare this amazing smorgasbord spread. Center stage is the fish. She leans into old-world traditions as she’s able, while weaving in her own modern touches. She picks up salted herring from Nordic House (sadly closing its brick and mortar doors at the end of 2021) and spends the days leading up to the party making us three kinds of pickled herring. Also served is havarti and gjetost cheeses, pickled cucumbers, smoked salmon salad, rodkal (pickled red cabbage), along with a divine smattering of other bite sized delights. It’s festive and fun, and tasty, too.

It doesn’t stop with the food. She has also collected a wide assortment of Scandinavia themed plates and decor over her lifetime, so the whole candle-lit scene holds a lovely Nordic vibe.

Glögg is mulled wine; spiced, warmed, and delish. The best part is when we all toast our first sips of glögg, strongly pronouncing, “skøl!,” as we make eye-contact with each person. I feel in that moment our ancestors are conjured, as we drink to their memory and to our own health and connection.

I feel in that moment our ancestors are conjured, as we drink to their memory and to our own health and connection.

Santa Lucia Day, which falls on December 13, was the original solstice celebration date and is my chance to reflect on my own ancient heritage and modern traditions. One of the things I love is how this family feast gets me in the mindset of honoring the coming Winter Solstice, the longest night, in the week prior to its actual occurrence. I take the opportunity to go out in nature and reflect on the year prior and ponder what seeds I’d like to plant for the coming year. What ways do you allow yourself to stop and reflect on the previous year? Do you have any of your own rituals or practices? Are there ways in which you weave your own ancient heritage and modern traditions?

What ways do you allow yourself to stop and reflect on the previous year? Do you have any of your own rituals or practices? Are there ways in which you weave your own ancient heritage and modern traditions?

Below is a StoryCatcher® video I made a handful of years ago at our Santa Lucia Day party where you can see the smorgasbord and hear a little more about the tradition 

What meaning or connection do traditions bring to your life?

video made using StoryCatcher® for iPhone

[original text below via Wikipedia]
Santa Lucia Day, also called the Feast of Saint Lucy, is a Christian feast day observed on 13 December. The observance commemorates Lucia of Syracuse, an early-4th-century virgin martyr under the Diocletianic Persecution, who according to legend brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs, wearing a candle lit wreath on her head to light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible. Her feast day, which coincided with the shortest day of the year prior to calendar reforms, is widely celebrated as a festival of light. Falling within the Advent season, Saint Lucy’s Day is viewed as a precursor of Christmastide, pointing to the arrival of the Light of Christ in the calendar on Christmas Day. 

modern traditions

Saint Lucy’s Day is celebrated most widely in Scandinavia and in Italy, with each emphasizing a different aspect of her story. In Scandinavia, where Lucy is called Santa Lucia, she is represented as a lady in a white dress symbolizing a baptismal robe and a red sash symbolizing the blood of her martyrdom, with a crown or wreath of candles on her head.

Blog Post Author:

April Bell is a Professional Personal Historian and founder at Tree of Life Legacies. She has been operating her storytelling and wisdom keeping project in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the United States since 2008. April utilizes her innate skills as an active listener to connect with others and draw out their stories and authentic, heartfelt values to be preserved and shared for generations to come. Her clients include individuals, families and organizations who value the power of story. In an effort to provide the gift of video storytelling to the world at large via a simple, fun and easy to use tool, she and her business partner, iPhone app coder Urs Brauchli, released StoryCatcher® for iPhone in the Fall of 2013. Available on the Apple App Store.

ancient heritage and modern traditions

Glögg;  a warm, mulled wine.

ancient heritage and modern traditions

Three kinds of pickled herring; curried, fried, and mustard-dill.

ancient heritage and modern traditions

Smoked salmon rolls, and blood oranges marinated in a mixture of grapeseed oil with fresh minced garlic and rosemary.

ancient heritage and modern traditions

Salmon salad, stuffed tomatoes, and pickled cucumbers.

Video:

ancient heritage and modern traditions

A Santa Lucia celebration in Sweden; magical music, singing and traditions; fantastic production. Click on the image to view.

ancient heritage and modern traditions

Similar to Mumu’s wood burning stove.

My Life in Paragraphs on Amazon
My Life in Paragraphs card deck

Fifty-Two Life Story Prompts

What are your struggles and triumphs, failures and successes? Where have you been, and who have you loved deeply? This book offers fifty-two provocative life story prompts to unearth the path you’ve walked and the moments you’ve held dear. It also guides you through telling your stories, one paragraph at a time, even if you don’t like to write. Explore your life with an open heart, and you’ll be gifted insights—and connections with loved ones—you’ll forever cherish.

by April Bell

StoryCatcher for iOS

Get StoryCatcher® on The Apple App Store

Easily create and share personal video stories. Your privacy is number one – once you download the app, you have 100% control over your media and data. My business partner, Urs Brauchli, and I started our co-creation of this app in 2011 to help people like you share more stories.

Fostering Resilience in Children

Fostering Resilience in Children

How Valuable Are Your Loved Ones’ Stories?

 

Fostering Resilience

What if I told you there was a way you could contribute to the happiness and resilience of your children and their children? Would you do it? What would it have meant if someone had done that for you?

StoryCatcher® for iOS is a delightful tool to help families do this.

Recent happiness research says that children who know their family narrative exhibit more resilience, and a stronger sense of love and belonging. Children unaware of their predecessors tend to be more challenged in these areas. It has been proved that our children benefit from knowing not only our triumphs, but also our struggles and how we persevered.

Children who know their family narrative exhibit more resilience, and a stronger sense of love and belonging.

This knowledge has deepened my commitment to reaching more people and making the process of capturing, saving, and sharing one’s personal stories fun, engaging, and something that is enriching to all.

A life story saved in a way that it can be passed on to future generations is the best gift anyone can leave for their children, grandchildren, and generations to come. It’s the most personal gift, the gift with the most meaning, the gift that only the storyteller can give.

A life story saved in a way that it can be passed on to future generations is the best gift

Stories can be saved in print, audio, or video, but what I love about working in video is witnessing the essence of a person, seeing that sparkle in the eye, hearing the inflection of his voice, watching that moment when she recalls a joyful or poignant memory, and the tears begin to well. Seeing that, capturing it on film . . . it’s irreplaceable.

Once those precious life moments are saved for all time and the family receives it—really understands the importance of what we have achieved . . . that’s priceless.

My client Michael Rosa deeply understood the value of the work a personal historian does and wants everyone to know why saving his mom’s story was important to him.

What would this mean to your loved ones to have their lives, their stories, their beliefs and blessings honored in this way? Don’t wait another day. You know how valuable YOUR loved one’s story is . . . don’t you?

S t o r y C a t c h e r | for iOS is a fantastic family history storytelling tool and a way to get started saving and sharing the stories of your life and love.

Blog Post Author:

April Bell is a Professional Personal Historian and founder at Tree of Life Legacies. She has been operating her storytelling and wisdom keeping project in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the United States since 2008. April utilizes her innate skills as an active listener to connect with others and draw out their stories and authentic, heartfelt values to be preserved and shared for generations to come. Her clients include individuals, families and organizations who value the power of story. In an effort to provide the gift of video storytelling to the world at large via a simple, fun and easy to use tool, she and her business partner, iPhone app coder Urs Brauchli, released StoryCatcher® for iPhone. Available on the Apple App Store.

Live & Online Retreats

Join me in engaging retreat experiences to discover your legacy stories, one paragraph at a time. Learn more about My Life in Paragraphs.

“My Life in Paragraphs” Card Deck

My Life in Paragraphs card deck
My Life in Paragraphs card deck

Provocative Story Prompts

This legacy story card deck is designed to accompany the “My LIfe in Paragraphs” course, and was created by me, April Bell. The cards may also serve as stand-alone prompts to spark stories that have brought meaning, learning, and purpose to you life.  Get your cards now.

StoryCatcher for iOS

Get StoryCatcher® on The Apple App Store

Easily create and share personal video stories. Your privacy is number one – once you download the app, you have 100% control over your media and data. My business partner, Urs Brauchli, and I started our co-creation of this app in 2011 to help people like you share more stories.

Your Most Important Gift

Your Most Important Gift

~Your Most Important Gift~

 

You Matter

This is for anyone who has held the honorable place in life of guiding another soul. It’s important to note, you don’t have to be a biological parent to hold that sort of importance in a child’s life ― no matter their age. Consider including those you’ve been a mentor or guide to. You never know how you might touch another with your legacy storytelling.

What greater gift than to give them ourselves, to let them know us and have us, when they’re ready to know, when they are available to receive and understand all that we are always offering.

Our kids are our kids, for all of life. They look to us for guidance, learning, hope and security. What greater gift than to give them ourselves, to let them know us and have us, when they’re ready to know, when they are available to receive and understand all that we are always offering.

I hope you read all of the below article, it’s powerful and important and will potentially inspire you to start collecting little gifts today that they will some day cherish beyond anything else they have in their lives. You may choose to do this in writing; my friend Elizabeth, whom I recorded a video biography with, is further expanding her collection and has embarked on a journey called, “my life in paragraphs.” You might consider using StoryCatcher® and creating a collection of short videos telling about your life, lessons, values and hopes. You may feel most comfortable expressing yourself via an audio only format, which can easily be done any time, any where using a smart phone or mini voice recorder.

Start collecting little gifts (stories) today that they will some day cherish beyond anything else they have in their lives.

Share when you’re inspired to. Create a little collection, or even a big one. Do it on your own or consult a professional for help and guidance. Save your data somewhere you’re sure your loved ones will find it or tell them where it is. It’s the greatest gift you will ever leave them. I promise you that.


 

Slate.com | Dear Kids by John Dickerson, | Published May 8th, 2014

“Mom also kept letters she wrote to me, which prove my point. I don’t remember getting them when they were originally sent…they’re full of wisdom as I reread them…”


 

Enjoy Jorja’s wisdom on having a positive impact:

Live & Online Retreats

Join me in engaging retreat experiences to discover your legacy stories, one paragraph at a time. Learn more about My Life in Paragraphs.

“My Life in Paragraphs” Card Deck

My Life in Paragraphs card deck
My Life in Paragraphs card deck

Provocative Story Prompts

This legacy story card deck is designed to accompany the “My LIfe in Paragraphs” course, and was created by me, April Bell. The cards may also serve as stand-alone prompts to spark stories that have brought meaning, learning, and purpoose to you life.  Get your cards now.

StoryCatcher for iOS

Get StoryCatcher® on The Apple App Store

Easily create and share personal video stories. Your privacy is number one – once you download the app, you have 100% control over your media and data. My business partner, Urs Brauchli, and I started our co-creation of this app in 2011 to help people like you share more stories.

Blog Post Author:

April Bell is a Professional Personal Historian and founder at Tree of Life Legacies. She has been operating her storytelling and wisdom keeping project in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the United States since 2008. April utilizes her innate skills as an active listener to connect with others and draw out their stories and authentic, heartfelt values to be preserved and shared for generations to come. Her clients include individuals, families and organizations who value the power of story. In an effort to provide the gift of video storytelling to the world at large via a simple, fun and easy to use tool, she and her business partner, iPhone app coder Urs Brauchli, released StoryCatcher® for iPhone. Available on the Apple App Store.

Listening is a Gift

Listening is a Gift

To Listen – A Magical Gift

 

Listening; Your Greatest Gift!

In a recent TEDTalkStoryCorps founder David Isay noted, “Every day, people come up to me and say, I wish I had interviewed my father or my grandmother or my brother. But I waited too long. Now no one has to wait anymore.” What Isay is referring to is the launch of StoryCorps’ Android and iOS app earlier this year, made possible by the 2015 one-million dollar TED Prize.

Similar in function to StoryCatcher®, The StoryCorps app allows users to do an oral history interview that can be shared as well as uploaded to the StoryCorps website and archived to the Library of Congress. The beauty of both apps is they give one the chance to seize the moment AND get the story using a device that is all too often right at their fingertips. No longer does one need to regret having “waited too long.” Isay has stated in interviews that, for him, “the soul is contained in the human voice.”

For some (myself included), the human soul, our true essence, resides within the eyes, or within witnessing that mysterious “thing” that animates a person, their mannerisms or way of being. For these folks, StoryCatcher® for iPhone, the app I developed in 2013 with my techie-wizard business partner Urs Brauchli, is their avenue for capturing and preserving family stories. While the StoryCorps app rests on the creation of audio interviews, StoryCatcher®’s function is recording sharable life stories on video.

What both of these apps provide is the invaluable framework for effectively capturing a meaningful family story.

Both apps give a step-by-step guide, including great questions to ask, so that an interviewee or an interviewer might easily capture and share a loved one’s story. Below this post are tips on how to get the most out of recording stories with your smartphone.

Imagine your child could meet their great-grandparents. Through stories they can. These days, with the growing presence of technology as part of our daily lives, there is a profusion of smart phone apps available to assist one in finding a solution to just about any problem. As such, one could postulate that it’s become easier than ever to record a loved one’s stories. Or has it?

One of the things most professional personal historians live for is the profound privilege of assisting others in authentically sharing their family stories and being the steward of this sacred rite.

What we do best is help and guide others in sharing themselves through stories.

Over the last few years, a myriad of options have become available for recording audio or video, on the fly, with a smartphone. Just do a search on The Apple App Store for “record audio” or “record video,” and you’ll be provided with thousands of apps to choose from. What’s missing in most of these audio/video apps is the guidance on HOW to tell and capture a story. Just as a personal historian helps a narrator shape and tell their story in a compelling way, what’s been missing with these audio/video recording apps is exactly that kind of guidance. Now, with StoryCatcher® and StoryCorps, that gap has been narrowed.

It would appear the time has surely arrived for us all to embrace the convenience and magic of modern technology in the realm of capturing loved ones personal history. No longer will one have the regret of waiting too long, losing the opportunity to preserve their family stories.

Today we have the ability to capture and share the priceless gifts these stories are, right in our pockets.

   
Tips For Recording With Your iPhone:

FIND A QUIET SPOT: Free of background noise and distractions with flattering light, if you’re recording a video.

SET YOUR INTERVIEWEE AT EASE: Make this time together playful and fun – you can always start over with a “Take 2” or “Take 3” if they have trouble finding the exact words they’d like to start with.

SET THEM UP: Have a little conversation prior to filming or recording to see what story they’re interested in sharing. I always pick one that they have a lot of energy around. You can use StoryCatcher’s “Interview Tips” for help. StoryCorps provides prompts as well. Remember, this time is about honoring them, refrain from the need to tell your own stories until after you’ve finished recording. Please DO share stories and consider taking turns recording each other.

LISTEN: It’s such a gift to be the space of listening for another. Remain present and fully engaged while the person relates their tale, giving positive visual cues along the way, such as nods, smiles or an emphatic facial expression.

GIVE THEM SPACE: Sometimes when people pause while speaking it’s because they are accessing an old memory. Don’t give in to the need to fill that space of silence with a question right away – give them the chance to share what might be there for them. Patience is also a gift. You might be surprised what comes out of that generous space.

Live & Online Retreats

Join me in engaging retreat experiences to discover your legacy stories, one paragraph at a time. Learn more about My Life in Paragraphs.

“My Life in Paragraphs” Card Deck

My Life in Paragraphs card deck
My Life in Paragraphs card deck

Provocative Story Prompts

This legacy story card deck is designed to accompany the “My LIfe in Paragraphs” course, and was created by me, April Bell. The cards may also serve as stand-alone prompts to spark stories that have brought meaning, learning, and purpose to you life.  Get your cards now.

StoryCatcher for iOS

Get StoryCatcher® on The Apple App Store

Easily create and share personal video stories. Your privacy is number one – once you download the app, you have 100% control over your media and data. My business partner, Urs Brauchli, and I started our co-creation of this app in 2011 to help people like you share more stories.

Blog Post Author:

April Bell is a Professional Personal Historian and founder at Tree of Life Legacies. She has been operating her storytelling and wisdom keeping project in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the United States since 2008. April utilizes her innate skills as an active listener to connect with others and draw out their stories and authentic, heartfelt values to be preserved and shared for generations to come. Her clients include individuals, families and organizations who value the power of story. In an effort to provide the gift of video storytelling to the world at large via a simple, fun and easy to use tool, she and her business partner, iPhone app coder Urs Brauchli, released StoryCatcher® for iPhone in the Fall of 2013. Available on the Apple App Store.

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