A warm welcome to all of our subscribers! If you’re a new subscriber, we’re delighted to welcome you to the GAB Gazette, a highlight reel from the world of Guided Autobiography for January 2025.
Saludos desde Argentina
In November 2024, GAB instructor Liliana Weisbek (far right) led an intensive three-week GAB workshop in Beccar, Argentina (about 17 km north of Buenos Aires). Each session was three hours. Liliana, who received her GAB certification in 2019, designed the workshop to accommodate participants who were unable to attend her regular 10-week workshop. Attendees (left to right): Mara Vazquez, Veronica Camp, Marine Bazan, Jesica Winitzky, Adriana Pisano, Alicia Cybulka.
In This Issue of the GAB Gazette
Message from Cheryl Svensson, Director, the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies
2025 Birren Center Anthology Second Chances: Final Call for Submissions
Books, Blogs, and Podcasts: Permission, Cursive Writing, Legacy Grandparenting
Message from the Director
As we move into the new year, there has been significant activity and progress within our Guided Autobiography (GAB) community. Here's a summary of recent events and ongoing initiatives:
GAB Summit: Transformative Storytelling. In December, we successfully hosted the GAB Summit, titled Transformative Storytelling: How GAB Empowers Personal and Professional Growth. Elizabeth Johnston and I co-hosted this free, three-day online event, which concluded on December 13. The summit brought together over 35 GAB instructors who shared their experiences and innovations in applying GAB to various populations and contexts. The event featured:
Three panel discussions covering key themes in life story writing and community-building.
27 instructor-led presentations, each lasting 30 minutes, on a wide range of topics.
Some of the presentation highlights:
Adapting Guided Autobiography Across Cultures & Languages
Guided Autobiography for Seniors Living with Early to Mid-Stage Dementia
Unlocking the Power of Memories: Six Benefits of Storytelling
Building a Profitable Life Story Business: A Proven Model from the UK
Integrating Guided Autobiography with SoulCollage® for Deeper Self-Discovery
Flavor and Form: Enhancing GAB Through Culinary and Bodily Narratives
Transforming Your Story into a Digital Story
The diversity of topics and the depth of expertise shared at the summit showcased the adaptability and impact of GAB across different settings. We are proud of the contributions made by our community and grateful for their efforts in advancing the practice of life story writing.
Summit Recordings: For those who missed the live event or were unable to purchase the recordings during the summit, we are pleased to announce that the recordings are being edited and will soon be available for purchase on the Birren Center website. This is a valuable resource for instructors and enthusiasts who want to learn from their peers and explore new ways to implement GAB.
Building the GAB Community: Our efforts to strengthen the GAB community continue through the Birren Center Community Hub and Forum. This online platform is designed to foster connection, collaboration, and resource-sharing among GAB instructors. If you haven't already joined, we encourage you to do so! We are continuously adding new resources and developing courses to support your work and personal growth. To join the Community Hub, visit the Birren Center website or click this link:
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to Guided Autobiography and for being an integral part of this vibrant community. We look forward to continuing this journey together in 2025 and beyond!
Best wishes for the new year!
Cheryl Svensson and Board Members of The Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies
2025 Birren Collection: Second Chances
It’s time to start planning your essay for the 2025 Birren Collection and encourage your GAB students to do the same!
The fourth Birren Collection will showcase about 50 essays from the GAB community on the subject of Second Chances: Lives Change, One Story at a Time.
Submissions open on February 1, 2025, and must be received by April 30, 2025, in order to be eligible for inclusion in the collection. Please note that submissions may close early due to maximum capacity, so encourage your students to submit early!
Use this link for submission guidelines, selection criteria, and a video message from Sarah White.
Books, Blogs, and Podcasts: Permission, Cursive Writing, Legacy Grandparenting
In her new book, Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create, Elissa Altman offers a deeply personal and practical exploration of the memoir-writing process, blending craft advice with a compelling narrative about the emotional, spiritual, and professional journey of a writer confronting creative trauma. Unlike traditional how-to guides, this hybrid memoir addresses the challenges of telling difficult stories — particularly those that intertwine with the experiences and secrets of others.
Peeling back the layers of her own experience, Elissa Altman uncovers universal truths about storytelling as a spiritual practice. Writing one’s story is more than an act of self-expression; it is a means of connecting with humanity, fostering compassion, humility, and self-awareness. The book emphasizes the transformative impact of granting oneself permission to tell the truth — no matter how challenging or uncomfortable it may be.
Ultimately, Permission is a call to action for anyone holding back their creative voice. It reminds readers that telling their stories is an act of courage and resilience, one that builds bridges of understanding across differences and brings healing to both the storyteller and their audience. By embracing the power of permission, we unlock the potential to connect deeply with ourselves and the world around us, moving toward a shared sense of humanity and transcendence. Suggested by Janet Ferguson
Cursive Writing for Gabbers
By Roselyn O’Connell
If you are as old as I am, you will remember 4x5 cardboard stock report cards filled out in ink by the classroom teacher. Among the subjects being graded was “penmanship.” My grades in penmanship were usually only average. This is one of those classes where I wish I would have paid more attention. Recently I learned that penmanship or cursive writing has many benefits. I believe those benefits are useful to our GAB class members.
I discovered this accidentally. Tired of my husband’s complaints that he couldn’t read the items on my handwritten grocery shopping list, I set out to make improvements. I bought a cursive workbook and spent every morning for nine months carefully writing all 26 letters (one at a time) in both upper and lower case. After a few minutes of practice, the repetitive motions felt more like meditation.
Filling each page with curves and loops, striving for a line of identical and properly articulated letters challenged my fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination. More than that, it focused my mind completely. I was doing this at an outdoor coffee shop and rarely noticed what was happening around me.
Eventually it occurred to me that this would be a useful tool at the beginning of GAB classes. The act of moving the hand calms the writer and acts as a powerful transition from getting to class to being in class.
I realize not everyone can hold a pen or pencil but for those who can, practicing cursive can enhance the GAB experience.
If you’re interested in learning what was lost when schools stopped teaching cursive, check out this article “What Students Lost Since Cursive Writing Was Cut from the Common Core Standards” on All Things Considered at the NPR website.
Legacy Grandparenting Podcast
There are lots of excellent resources available now for older adults who want to share their life stories with their children and grandchildren. In this episode of Legacy Grandparenting, Wayne Rice and John Coulombe talk with Sheri Kohlmann, founder and director of More Than Words, Inc., an organization that helps adults of all ages to reflect on their lives in a more meaningful and in-depth way and to share their stories with guided autobiographies, ethical wills and other methods for preserving and passing on a legacy that can last for generations. Sheri is also a Birren Center Board member and a Guided Autobiography instructor trainer. During the podcast, Sheri demonstrates her interviewing skills by getting John Coulombe to open up about some of his formative early memories.
That’s some of what’s happening in the world of GAB. Have a wonderful month and remember - your story is a treasure. For you, and for generations to come.
Editor’s Note: If you have an idea for a feature for the GAB Gazette please email Stephen Dolainski at steve91604@gmail.com. Please use the subject line GAB Gazette Idea.