The GAB Gazette—November 2025

The GAB Gazette

November 2025 Edition

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
― Maya Angelou

You can find previous GAB Gazette editions on our website at: https://thebirrencenter.org/the-gab-gazette

The Gazette is continuously improving in content. Please share your feedback and ideas for future GAB Gazette editions with us at: newsletter@thebirrencenter.org.

In this Issue:

Happenings in The World of GAB
Participant Experiences: The Gift of GAB by Dena Gillespie and The Hues of Year’s End by Alice Gaddi-Roselo
Spotlight On: Elizabeth Johnston
Q & A with Dr. James Birren
Book Corner: Shelf Worthy Books and Podcasts🌟
Reflection on Gratitude Exercise

As the season turns, we pause to honor GRATITUDE — for the stories shared, the communities built, and the moments that remind us how connected we truly are. This month’s offerings invite you to slow down, reflect, and celebrate the gifts of memory and meaning.

GAB Chat

November 19, 2025

We're delighted to announce our monthly gathering designed specifically for Guided Autobiography Instructors across the globe. This initiative aims to foster a supportive community while enhancing our professional work through shared experiences and collaborative learning.

This month’s meeting details:

Date: Wednesday, November 19th
Time: 9:00am-10:30 am PDT / 12:00 pm-1:30 pm ET
Subject: Ekphrastic writing described as “taking the visual and transforming it to the verbal.” This centuries-old form of writing invites us to use visual art as a muse and guide for bringing words to life. In this session, fellow Guided Autobiography facilitator Kimberly Lee will explore the origins and forms of ekphrastic writing and show how it can enrich and deepen GAB stories. Participants will engage with a few imaginative prompts, using images to uncover original and unexpected narratives infused with energy and emotion. The workshop will also include a demonstration of SoulCollage®, an expressive arts method that Kimberly uses as an inspiring pre-writing practice.
Please feel free to send your questions ahead of time to Heather: heatheraknox@gmail.com

We hope to see many of you there!

Register for GAB Chat

The official launch of Second Chances: Lives Change, One Story at a Time is almost here: November 15

The wait is almost over! On November 15, Second Chances officially launches—a powerful collection of true stories about transformation and hope. Every copy sold helps sustain and grow our shared community, supporting GAB instructors, students, and programs worldwide. Your participation in the launch directly helps generate funds for training, outreach, and new opportunities to bring life story writing to more people.

Here’s how to make the launch a success:
•Buy and give as gifts: Buy copies for yourself or as gifts.
•Post online: Share the book online starting November 15.
• Post a link to the trailer: View Book Trailer
• Leave a review: Write a short Amazon review to boost visibility.

All funds from book sales go to the Birren Center to ensure our sustainability.

Sarah White, Anthology project manager, 2025

From Second Chances: A Glimpse into the Power of Renewal

In “Unforeseen Paths,” Kristine Nance shares how vision loss redirected her from square dancing to memoir writing—and how Guided Autobiography opened new doors to connection, purpose, and belonging. Her story beautifully illustrates what we mean by “second chances”: the grace of rediscovering joy and community in an unexpected place.

Read Feature Story

Starts Soon! Savor the Flavors of Memory in This 5-Week Workshop

Join GAB instructor Janet Ferguson for an imaginative journey into the kitchens, gardens, and dining tables of memory.

In Tasting the Past – Flavors of Memory, experienced and emerging GAB facilitators will explore how food, flavor, and sensory experience can open new pathways into autobiographical writing.

Across five lively two-hour sessions, you’ll sample prompts drawn from Birren’s classic life themes and learn how to adapt them for use in your own settings — from established GAB courses to intergenerational storytelling projects and “legacy recipe” books.

Expect a rich blend of creativity and reflection — writing, remembering, and sharing in a small, supportive group. This is storywork at its most human: playful, nourishing, and deeply connective.

Starts Monday, November 17 | 9:00–11:00 a.m. Pacific
Special Introductory Fee: $125 | 20% discount for Community Hub subscribers
Limited to just 7 participants — reserve your seat today!

Questions? Contact Janet at: thelukasa@gmail.com

Want to sign up?

Register Here!

Want to launch 2026 with fresh energy for finding students and filling classes?

“This training opened my eyes to new ideas for promoting my workshops and growing my business.” – Workshop participant

Join the Birren Center’s Find Your Students, Fill Your Classes workshop, led by Sarah White—marketing coach, GAB instructor, and board secretary of the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies.

Over six weeks (January–February 2026), you’ll create a personalized Marketing Action Plan for six months of activity. Each session helps you craft your elevator pitch, social media messages, and other outreach tools, using templates and peer support. You’ll never again feel stuck about what to say or where to start.

Details

When: Fridays, 8:00–10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, starting January 9, 2026 (via Zoom)
Cost: $300 (includes a contribution to the Birren Center)
Capacity: Limited to 10 participants

Questions or ready to register? Contact Sarah at whitesarah.cnf@gmail.com

Participant’s Experience: The Gift of GAB, by Dena Gillespie: Dena of Cardiff-by-the-Sea in southern California completed her GAB I course with Barbara Smith in October 2025. The group established a strong bond over the 8 weeks, and she offered the poem “The Gift of GAB” as a statement of gratitude to her GAB-mates and for the class. (Dena pictured front center with Lark, Rita, Barbara and Anna in the back row.)

Participant Experience: The Hues of Year’s End: Forgiving Ourselves for the Unfinished by Alice Gaddi-Roselo: Alice lives in the Philippines and has been an active Guided Autobiography instructor since May 2024. She has worked tirelessly with the GAB Anthology group and has generously supported many projects for the Birren Center. A gifted writer, Alice shares her work freely with fellow instructors. Here, she offers a short reflective story on Gratitude. Additionally, you will find her new theme, Seasons of Reflection: Questions to Guide Us Forward, under Emerging Themes in the Birren Center Community Hub.

Read Alice’s Essay

Spotlight On

Elizabeth Johnston

Championing Creativity Through Guided Autobiography

By Barbara Smith

Elizabeth Johnston is a creativity mentor, story coach, and founder of Own Your Creativity and The Actualizers community. Her journey into the world of Guided Autobiography is rooted in a rich background of writing, creativity, and a deep commitment to lifelong learning. With degrees in Creative Writing and Humanities, as well as a master’s in Screenwriting, Elizabeth has spent over two decades teaching writing in various forms. Her passion for storytelling and empowering others through their own narratives led her to GAB—a method that now sits at the heart of her teaching and outreach. The Guided Autobiography Summit, held in December 2024, is one of many transformational online events she has hosted.

Speaking from just outside Montreal, Elizabeth shared her many-faceted teaching experiences with storytelling and life review. Her introduction to GAB came nearly a decade ago when she was “headhunted” for a teaching position at a senior center. Already experienced in teaching life writing to older adults using similar approaches, she saw the value in GAB’s structured method and became a certified instructor. What followed was a dynamic evolution of her teaching style, blending her creative expertise with the principles of GAB to support individuals in sharing and shaping their life stories.

Recognizing the power of community in this work, Elizabeth helped to initiate the GAB Summit in collaboration with Cheryl Svensson, from whom she took the GAB instructor training. Her goal was to amplify GAB’s reach, strengthen connections among instructors, and create a space for sharing innovative teaching practices. The 3-day event, a first-ever for GAB, not only helped build momentum in the GAB community but also sparked new ideas and collaborations among facilitators worldwide, in such areas as writing memoirs, digital storytelling, marketing, and using GAB for personal and professional growth.

Beyond the classroom, Elizabeth is a firm advocate for the power of creativity in everyday life. Through her podcast Story Vision, she explores this theme with guests from a wide range of disciplines. The show, now released seasonally, offers listeners insight into how embracing creativity can transform lives, both personally and professionally. A most recent innovation is the “Story Lounge,” a monthly writing group that fosters community and creativity among participants, some of whom are former GAB students.

Elizabeth also brings her creative marketing skills to the forefront in promoting GAB and writing workshops. She encourages instructors to shift their mindset from “having to” market their classes to “getting to” share their passion with others. Her strategies include offering free introductory workshops, leveraging community events, producing testimonial videos, and tapping into local media.

With such a busy and dynamic schedule, Elizabeth offers some sound and sensible advice for GAB instructors. “Make time for your own creativity,” she offers. “While teaching GAB is a passion for many, it’s important to be fresh to be able to facilitate with energy.” This doesn’t necessarily mean taking a GAB class from another instructor, she adds. “Take a tap class, dance in your living room. Burnout can happen, so be kind to yourself, put yourself first.”

Looking ahead, Elizabeth is open to coordinating another GAB Summit. With connections reaching as far as the Philippines in the last Summit, she sees this as an opportunity to grow GAB’s international impact. At its core, Elizabeth believes storytelling is transformative, capable of building bridges across cultures and generations. Through her work, she continues to advocate for creative expression as a vital part of teaching, connection, and personal growth.

A Series of Q & A with Dr. Birren

As our founder and friend through GAB, Dr. James Birren had many words of wisdom to share with GAB instructors. Through an online Q & A series with Dr. Cheryl Svensson during her GAB online instructor training sessions from 2010 to 2015, he answered questions from GAB instructors. You may find that you have similar questions. His answers are as relevant and helpful today as they ever were. This is the fifth in a series of installments devoted to the Birren Q & A.

Photo of Dr. Birren

With gratitude for Dr. Birren’s long and productive life … here are some of his thoughts on GAB and aging.

Question for Dr. Birren: As you’ve watched yourself age into your 90's, would you add more sessions to include more specific aging questions/thoughts? With more and more people living into their late 90's/early 100's I think there would be amazing topics to add.

Dr. Birren’s Answer: In my 90’s I would definitely add more sessions and questions to GAB. I have always added new sensitizing questions to prime memories. One group of mine met for 5 years, though not weekly. Some of the new themes might deal with the changes we face in life, health issues, etc.

Question for Dr. Birren: What did you learn about yourself by helping others write their own stories? What is the best reason(s) you've learned for writing one's own autobiography?

Dr. Birren’s Answer:The stories that I have listened to have primed my own memories. We all have memories in our brains that need to be brought out and dusted off and that happens when we listen to others’ stories. I’ve learned so much by listening to others. When we write in a group it integrates the life experience and puts all the pieces together. There are thousands of pieces of your life jigsaw puzzle. The primed memories Q&A lead to the story of your life. Just this summer, I’ve published my own memoir: James Emmett Birren, A Memoir.

Question for Dr. Birren: In your own life review, what time would you describe as most satisfying? Why?

Dr. Birren’s Answer: Now is the most satisfying time of my life. The pressures are off. I’m 94 years old and Betty will soon be 95, the children are gone so this is the mellow time. We have time to think about and to enjoy life.

Professor Emeritus James E. “Jim” Birren, the founding dean of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and an aging-research pioneer considered by many to be the father of modern gerontology, passed away on January 15, 2016, at the age of 97. Remembering James E. Birren

Shelf-Worthy: This Edition’s Top Picks

The Gratitude Effect: Transform Your Life in Minutes a Day Through Mindful Appreciation, by Fleur Jean:

In The Gratitude Effect, Fleur Jean offers a gentle yet powerful reminder that profound transformation can begin with something as simple as five minutes of gratitude each day. Drawing on research in psychology and mindfulness, Jean provides a science-backed roadmap for shifting focus from stress and scarcity to appreciation and abundance.

The book is filled with accessible, practical exercises designed for busy people who want to bring more awareness and joy into their lives. Jean guides readers through developing a sustainable gratitude habit, using easy tracking tools and reflections that foster emotional resilience and emotional intelligence. She also addresses common obstacles, showing how gratitude can be cultivated even during challenging times.

What makes this guide especially compelling is Jean’s personal story. After facing depression, anxiety, and burnout, she found healing through the daily practice of mindful appreciation. Her authenticity and compassion shine through every page, offering readers both inspiration and hope.

Beautifully written and deeply encouraging, The Gratitude Effect is more than a self-help manual—it’s an invitation to slow down, notice life’s small blessings, and discover how gratitude can truly transform the way we experience the world.

Shelf Worthy suggestion from Cheryl Svensson, Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies, Director.

The Thank You Letter, by Jane Cabrera:

Jane Cabrera’s The Thank You Letter is a heartwarming story that celebrates gratitude and the joy of connection. After her birthday, Grace begins writing thank-you notes to friends and family—but soon realizes there’s much more to appreciate. She thanks her teacher, her dog, even the blue sky. Her heartfelt letters inspire the whole town to share kindness in return, culminating in a touching surprise of affection and appreciation.

Cabrera’s bright, textured illustrations and clever collage details, add warmth and charm to this celebration of mindfulness and community.

For everyone who wants to encourage children to write thank you notes for gifts, and for everyone searching for new ways to connect with distant loved ones, this book is an inspiring read for children and adults alike. A wonderful reminder that even small gestures of thanks can ripple outward to brighten many lives.

As we head into the season of gratitude, this children’s book seemed like the perfect reminder to all of us, children and adults alike, that a thank you letter holds special meaning for the writer and the recipient. Jane Cabrera’s book is perfect for giving and reading to the kids in your life this holiday season. Shelf Worthy suggestion from GAB facilitator Roselyn O'Connell.

For the Memoir-Minded: What to Listen to & Why

It seems everyone these days is talking about and listening to podcasts. One report notes approximately 450,000 active shows in the U.S. Most podcasts are free, easy to access on phones and available on-demand. It is an easy way to learn on the go. Perfect for busy GAB instructors.

That is why we went looking for memoir and writing podcasts. We found some that you might like. The following podcast hosts and guests offer practical advice and share their own experiences in meeting the challenges of staying with the writing and helping others write their stories. When you are out walking, doing tiresome household chores, driving to a dental appointment or thinking about your next class, try listening to one of the following podcasts for inspiration.

Happy listening.

Capturing Essence for Care: Storytelling that Promotes Person hood in Healthcare:

Listen to GAB facilitator Lisa Joworski on her podcast. In this episode, Dr. Cheryl Svensson, Director of the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies, reveals how a structured approach to life story writing can provide emotional support, reduce caregiver burden, and create the deep connections we all crave—even when loved ones seem disinterested at first. Listen Here: The Power of Guided Autobiography

Framing the Narrative-Evolution of a Storyteller:

Heather Alicia Knox combines her skills as a photographer, writer, and digital storytelling facilitator to help people capture their most meaningful moments and share them with the world. Her journey reveals how storytelling methodologies can complement each other beautifully. Trained as a Common Language digital Story Teller facilitator and a Guided Autobiography instructor, Heather now helps people transform their written reflections into powerful short films. In this podcast she discusses her work with various communities including expats, individuals with cognitive changes, and their care partners. Listen Here: Framing the Narrative-Evolution of a Storyteller

Lessons from Walking Back the Long Road, StoryCenter’s Workshop for the Well-Lived: The Joy and Beauty of Collective Meaning-Making

Janet Ferguson completed her Guided Autobiography Instructor Training in 2023. She divides her time between Bermuda and the United Kingdom, living and working across continents. In her insightful article posted in LinkedIn, she explores the power and surprises that unfold in life story workshops. Janet blends Guided Autobiography methods with her own life story circle work—she is truly a story doula, grounded in presence, care, and trust in emergence. See Janet’s LinkedIn Article: Lessons from Walking Back the Long Road, StoryCenter’s Workshop for the Well-Lived: The Joy and Beauty of Collective Meaning-Making

If you have a recommended podcast or you yourself were interviewed for a podcast please send it to us. We will be updating this series in the future.

Pie Chart Reflection Exercise

Gratitude & What I Overlook

A pie chart can reveal what lists sometimes hide. This simple reflection exercise invites you to map gratitude—and the parts of life you tend to overlook—by translating your freewriting into color and shape. As you sketch, the proportions you choose often illuminate what holds your attention, what quietly sustains you, and what you may be missing. It is a gentle way to see gratitude from a fresh angle and to notice the balance, surprises, and meaning that emerge when you give your inner landscape a visual form.

View Exercise

Messenger, by Mary Oliver from Thirst

The GAB Gazette is a bi-monthly publication from the Birren Center.

GAB Gazette Team

Editor: Cheryl Svensson

Contributors: Melissa Coats, Ansley Dauenhauer, Alice Gaddi Roselo, Roselyn O’Connell, Barbara Smith, and Angela Turner