See the Trees, Then the Forest

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See the Trees, Then the Forest

• A LifeBio Class Perspective
• SeniorNet Tampa

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Meet Jo Ann Sanderson

• Born  November 8, 1936Birthplace  Massena
  (Cass County) IowaCurrent Residence  Temple
  Terrace (Tampa) Florida
•  
• My Childhood Favorites
• Doll A beautiful doll with a china face.
• My mother would make clothes for it.Games
  Hide-and-Seek and HopscotchTV Shows After TV
  came out, I liked I Love Lucy.
• Some Great, Memorable Moments While Growing Up
• Traveling on the train each summer with my mother
• Learning how to play the piano and organgood
  enough for church and Jobs Daughters!
• Using a mangle to iron underwear, socks, tea
  towels,
• My grandfather teaching me to drive at the age of
  13, on his 1936 Chevrolet pickup that was built
  the year I was born. 

Jim and Jo Ann Sanderson, today
Jo Ann at Age 3
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Jo Anns Wisdom
Words of Wisdom Live each day to the
fullest. Treat others as you would want to be
treated. It takes less muscles to smile than it
does to frown, so smile! Greatest Joys in
LifeMy marriage of 48 years to a wonderful
guy. Our children and our three granddaughters
are our joy. Greatest SorrowsLosing our son at
the age of 34. My mother not living long enough
to see my wedding or her grandchildren.   What
advice would you give to future generations about
love? Listen to your heart and find someone you
enjoy being with--not just doing things--but
quietly reading, dreaming about your future, and
working hard toward your goals in life.
Jo Anns High School Senior Picture - 1958
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Research

• Autobiography for Older Adults is Like Chocolate
  for the Brain, Gene Cohen, author of The
  Mature Mind
• Dr. Andrew Weil, author of Healthy Aging,
  recommends creating an ethical will.
• Erik Erickson
• Ages 60 to 74 - Ego Integrity vs. Despair
  Introspection and development of wisdom, creating
  a sense of community
• Age 75 Years to Death - Immortality vs.
  Extinction - Positive outcomes come from life
  review, coming to terms with the past and
  accepting death with a sense courage and without
  fear.
• Studies of reminiscence show
• Increases life satisfaction decreases or
  prevents depression

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Benefits of the Course

• New course to offer
• Attractive course for people 50 especially
  opportunity to invite younger participants
• Intergenerational involvement is possible.
• Helping people create a wonderful gift for their
  loved ones
• PR and media opportunities abound-- tell the
  story of your amazing seniors!

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What is Writing Your Own Life Story About?

• Provides a background on WHY our stories are
  powerful
• Provides exercises to help people get to know
  each other and prompts memories to flow back to
  top of mind
• Intergenerational involvement is possible.
• Helping people create a wonderful gift for their
  loved ones

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SeniorNet Tampa

• Operates alongside LIR, a Lifelong Learning
  Institute
• In operation since 1993
• SeniorNet seeking to freshen curriculum
• LIR has been offering Writing Your Life Story
  continuously since 1997
• To date 40 such Life Story writing classes offered

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Obstacles to SeniorNets Writing Your Own Life
Story Class

• Is it technology training?
• Perceived security ownership issues
• Will a SeniorNet instructor teach it?
• Can we differentiate it from Writing Your Life
  Story?
• Will anyone sign up?

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The Pilot Class

• Summer, 2006
• 6-session class, open to volunteers
• 12-seat class filled within 24 hours
• 6 men, 6 women
• Instructor staff member (30-something F)
• Coach targeted future instructor (M)

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Obstacles Redux

• Student concerns we heard
• Who would care about my ordinary life?
• Who would want to read it?
• Where do I start on such a project?

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Outcome Most Obstacles Overcome

• Advanced class learned the system early
• Focus shifted to anecdotes memories
• Memories triggered
• Attempts to bridge broken family ties
• Acknowledgement of legacy, and passing it forward

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Connecting Classmates

• It was evident after the first class how
  connected the group of 12 was becoming . . .the
  LifeBio course brings a different dynamic to the
  typical SeniorNet class - Tom Kochansky

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Tampas Feedback

• LifeBio provides . . .
• Starting point
• Structure
• Safety
• to what can be perceived as an overwhelming
  project
• It helps you see the forest and the trees!
• - Angie Denninger

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Sharing Stories

• The encouragement to share stories if we desired
  made the class a fun and enjoyable learning
  situation. You were not required to share any
  unpleasant memories. But, writing about them
  sometimes does put closure to them. Jo Ann
  Sanderson

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Creating a Legacy

• The class . . . stirred up memories from my past
  that I had not thought of in a long time. As
  Seniors we have a tendency to forget some
  important things, but sharing our experiences was
  a valuable tool in writing the Life Stories to be
  passed along to children and grandchildren.
• Jo Ann Sanderson