Hi Reader,

Last week while chatting with my neighbors, one of them excitedly pulled out her phone to show me her latest family tree update - dozens of names, dates, and perfectly organized branches. But when I asked her to tell me about any of these people, she went completely quiet. "Well," she said, "I know when they were born and died..."

Sound familiar? We've all been there - staring at what looks more like a boring spreadsheet than the fascinating story of the people who made us who we are.

Let's change that!

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🎬 NEW BLOG POST & VIDEO

Why Your Family Tree Feels Like a Boring Spreadsheet (And How to Bring It to Life)

Whether you've been researching for decades or you're just starting to explore your roots, there's nothing more frustrating than a family tree that feels like a homework assignment instead of a collection of real people who lived real lives.

What you'll discover:

• The 3 biggest mistakes that turn family history into lifeless data
• Simple storytelling techniques that work whether you have 5 minutes or 5 hours
• How to transform the research you already have into stories your kids will actually want to hear

📝 Read the blog post: Why Your Family Tree Feels Like a Boring Spreadsheet (And How to Bring It to Life)​

PLUS: New this week on the Are You My Cousin? YouTube Channel - if your research has been feeling off track, my latest video reveals the 🚩5 red flags that show your ancestor research has gone sideways (and how to get back on course).

🎬 Watch: 🚩5 Red Flags That Your Ancestor Research Has Gone Off Track​

💡QUICK WIN OF THE WEEK

Find Your Ancestor's "Story Starter"

This week's challenge: Pick ONE person from your family tree and find their "story starter" - the one detail that makes you think "I wonder what that was really like?"

Examples:

• The great-grandmother who immigrated alone at age 16
• The uncle who mysteriously changed his name when he moved to California
• The ancestor who lived through the 1918 flu pandemic

Your action step: Write down one question about their life that goes deeper than dates. Then spend 10 - 15 minutes researching what was happening in their world during that time period.

Why this works: A 1943 draft card isn't just about physical descriptions - it reveals family connections. Who did he list as next of kin? Where was he living? Was he married? What was his occupation? These details show you the real person behind the name.

Next week: I'll show you how to find those deeper answers and turn them into stories your family will actually want to hear.

📖 FROM THE ARCHIVES

Making Mystery Photos Tell Their Stories

Since we're talking about bringing family trees to life, here's one of my most popular posts about turning those mysterious old photos into family stories - even when you don't know who's in them.

Read the Blog Post: Finding Hidden Clues In Old Family Photos​

🛠️ WORK WITH ME

Ready to Transform Your Research Into Meaningful Stories?

Whether you're stuck on a research problem or ready to transform your family facts into stories people actually want to hear, here's how I can help.

• Self-guided: Grab my free resources and start turning your tree into stories today
• Supported: Get a family tree audit to identify the issues hiding in your research
• Done-with-you: Book a VIP Day with me to break through your biggest genealogy challenges

Remember, our ancestors weren't just names and dates - they were real people with dreams, struggles, and stories that shaped the family you know today. Those stories are worth finding, and they're definitely worth telling.

Happy Ancestor Hunting!

Lisa

Lisa Lisson Genealogy Researcher, Author & Speaker