Helping Your Patrons Tell Their Life Story Presented by Hope Levy There s Always Hope Learning for a Lifetime www.theresalwayshopeconsulting.com
Objectives Explain the term life review generally and specifically as it relates to your patrons needs Describe at least three examples of life review activities Identify print, online and community-based resources that your patrons can use to help them tell their life story Discover how developing a library-based life review program can fit with your library s mission
Agenda Factors to Consider and Examples Sample Life Review Program Sample Life Story Activities Trends In Life Review Resources
Life Review The variety of ways in which we examine our life by reflecting on the past, considering how our past has influenced where we are today, and creating a future using that which we ve learned about our past and present in mind
Quotes About Life Review Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. -Kierdegaard Since you are like no other being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable. -Brenda Ureland We do not change as we grow older; we just become clearly ourselves. -Lynn Hall The unexamined life is not worth living. -Socrates
Strange as it may seem, my life is based on a true story. Author Unknown
Who Tells Their Life Story? Baby boomers wanting to look at their past as a way to help them visualize their future Older adults wanting to leave a legacy for their families Late-life elders who are looking to preserve family history and find meaning Anyone else, particularly in times of transition
Life review takes many forms What have you done thus far to tell your life story or preserve your family history?
Factors to Consider
Factors to Consider Level of functioning Motivation Health/cognitive status Resources available Setting Group or individual project Time constraints Who will facilitate Personal preferences Others?
Ask What is your Goal? Who is your audience?
By Yourself or With Ohters?
How will you communicate your story?
Equipment/Technology?
Photos
Other Creative Ideas
Poetry and Song
Sample Program
FREE CLASS CREATIVE WAYS OF TELLING YOUR LIFE STORY THROUGH GUIDED AUTOBIOGRAPHY An opportunity to explore where you ve been, where you are now, and where you re going Sharpen your memories, learn more about the meaning of your life, and share your stories with others. This course is particularly helpful to people facing transition and to those interested in beginning or continuing to work on an autobiography, memoir or other life review project. Participants will review their lives through a semi-structured topical and group approach, which is based on a proven method created by recognized gerontologist, James Birren, Ph.D. In each session we will engage in personal development activities as well as complete and share a two-page narratives on one of a progressive series of themes. A week-by-week schedule is available at the class or online at www.theresalwayshopeconsulting.com. WHEN: Mondays, January 25 April 4, 2016 (No class February 15 and March 28) 1:00 to 3:50 PM - Join us anytime. Jan 25 Feb 1 Feb 8 Feb 15 Feb 22 Feb 29 March 7 March 14 City College San Francisco Encore Learning Creative Ways of Telling Your Life Story (OLAD 7412) Spring 2016 Class Schedule Mondays 1:00 pm 3:50 pm San Francisco Main Library: Latino-Hispanic Meeting Room 100 Larkin Street Introduction and Registration Forks in the Road My Family, My Self My Life s Work NO CLASS: Presidents Day Self-Image and Well-Being The Male-Female Equation My Life Goals From Secular to Spiritual Facilitator: Hope Levy WHERE: San Francisco Public Library Latino-Hispanic Meeting Room (Lower Level) 100 Larkin Street (at Market) Easily accessible by MUNI and BART March 21 March 28 April 4 My Legacy Letter NO CLASS: CCSF Spring Break Create Your Own Theme COST: FREE - Join us anytime! TO ENROLL: Simply attend the class, and fill out a registration form on site. If you would like additional information please contact Hope Levy at 415.931.8679 or hopelevy@yahoo.com; or the Older Adults Department at 415.452.5839. Schedule subject to change (For updates, please check www.theresalwayshopeconsulting.com) THE INSTRUCTOR: Hope Levy has over 20 years teaching experience and is the former Acting Chairperson of the Encore Learning Department at City College of SF. She holds an MA in Gerontology and an MA in Special Education from SF State University. Through her work, Hope promotes positive aging through her passion for lifelong learning. The Encore Learning Department of City College sponsors this class in partnership with the San Francisco Main Library. The Encore Learning Department of City College offers classes designed for adults 55 years old or better, though all are welcome to attend. All classes are FREE.
Guided Autobiography A thematic approach to life review
Sample Life Review Activities
Example: Six-Word Memoirs One life, six words, what s yours? She always found the silver lining What s you six-word memoir?
The Story of Your Name How you got your name Nicknames Formal name/ pet name Family name
Life Lessons and Words of Wisdom A lesson for each decade of your life What have you learned in this decade of your life? Words of wisdom to the next generations
What have you accomplished in your lifetime? Four accomplishments that you have achieved, or would like to a achieve before the end of your lifetime What advice would you give to others?
Family Tree Activities Draw your family tree What are the unknowns? How can you fill in the gaps? Tell about one unusual thing about your genealogy
Autobiographical Collage Possible Themes Now and then Youth versus age Past/present/future Other ideas?
Me at My Best Story How have you used your strengths in the past? How do you use your strengths now? How can they be used in the future? Who recognized/recognizes these strengths in you?
Ethical Wills (CelebrationOfLife.net) A legal will bequeaths your valuables, while an ethical will bequeaths your values
More Sample Activity Ideas Timeline/Turning points Letter to/from Your Younger Self Mementoes and Historical Events
More Activity Ideas A Food From Your Childhood What is something you were afraid to do, but did anyway? Growth v. Safety: i.e., errors of omission v. errors of commission Time Machine Activity
Trends in Life Review Harnessing Technology
Social Networking www.geni.com Over 45 Million Profiles! Login Geni is a private place for your family to build your family tree, preserve your history and share your lives. e Geni to: Build your family tree Preserve your family history Share family photos and videos Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other events Create profiles for your children Memorialize loved ones You - Start Here your first name your last name your email never shared, never spammed gender male female Start My Tree! Got a GEDCOM? Have a Facebook Account? Geni is private and secure. Only the people in your family tree can see your tree and profile. Privacy Terms
StoryCorps (www.storycorps.org) swww.storycorps.org
The History Project www.thehistoryproject.com
International Institute for Reminiscence and Life Review (IIRLR) www.reminiscenceandlifereview.org
Resources
Life Review Resources Baines, Barry. Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper (2nd Edition). DeCappo Press, 2006. James Birren and Kathrynn Cochran, Telling the Story of Your Life Through Guided Autobiography Groups. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001. *also see www.guidedautobiography.com) Richard Campbell and Cheryl Svensson, Writing Your Legacy. Writer s Digest Books, 2015.
More Resources Fershleiser, Rachel and Smith, Larry. Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs. Harper Publications, 2007. (also see www.sixword.memoirs.com) Kathryn Laurenhue, Getting to Know the Life Stories of Older Adults: Activities for Building Relationships. Health Professional Press, 2007.
Web Resources www.ancestry.com: Build your family tree using this social networking site www.celebrationofllfe.net: providing ways to pass on one s legacy of wisdom and legacy of generosity, as well as the legacy of values that is the focus of an ethical wi www.geni.com: Social website for creating a family tree www.reminiscenceandlifereview.org: provided information, education and resources in the field of reminiscence and life review www.storycorps.net: an independent nonprofit project whose mission it is to honor and celebrate one another s lives by recording life stories www.thehistoryproject.com: Capture the past with the technology of today
Relevant TED Talks Dave Issay: Everyone Around You Has a Story the World needs to Hear Talya Selasi: Don t Ask Where I m From, Ask Where I m Local Celeste Headlee: 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation
Activity Resources Adam Bouldray, The Autobiography Box: A Step-By-Step Kit for Examining A Life Worth Living. Chronicle Books, 2000. Conversation Pieces card game LifeStories board game Penny Ante card game
Objectives Revisited Explain the term life review generally and specifically as it relates to your patrons needs Describe at least three examples of life review activities Identify print, online and community-based resources that your patrons can use to help them tell their life story Discover how developing a library-based life review program can fit with your library s mission
Comedy is tragedy plus time. -Steve Allen
Thank you! Hope Levy Hope@TheresAlwaysHopeConsulting.com 415.931.8679 There s Always Hope Learning for a Lifetime www.theresalwayshopeconsulting.com