How Have You Affected the Lives of Others

In the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey (played my Jimmy Stewart) is so overwhelmed by problems in his life that he wishes that he had never been born. In the next section of the film, he learns what life would have been like if he had not been born, and he comes to appreciate the positive—and even lifesaving—effect he has had on the lives of family and friends. In this workshop we will discuss and then write about how the lives of our family and friends would be different if each of us had not been born.

In-person at Tempe Public Library
Wednesday, December 6, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Online
Saturday, December 2, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMld-2hrTgoE9UC1MBg3HKK8K3Bmtdv63zn 

Tuesday, December 5, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcoceyurDguGt3zDsFDA4x9Yj_ZQe0UQ9SY

Childhood Toys

Each of us may have vivid or vague memories about the toys that occupied our play time as children. Some of those toys may have been purchased; some may have been lovingly crafted by family members; some have been ordinary objects that we spontaneously converted to toys—e.g., a stick or a rock. And some of us have had more expensive toys in adulthood. In this workshop, we will talk and write about some of the toys that each of us has had, reflecting on the role of toys in our lives and the lives of other family members.

In-person Mesa Temple Visitors' Center
Monday, December 4, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

In-person Ed Robson Library
Programming Room
Thursday, December 7, 10:00–11:30 a.m.

(Random) Acts of Kindness

Research shows how even small acts of  kindness can positively affect both those who perform those acts and those who receive them. Research also indicates that we underestimate the impact that kindness can have. In this workshop, we will discuss acts of kindness that we have witnessed and participated in.  We will consider why and how we and our friends and family engage in acts of kindness and what the experience has been like. We will each write about one especially memorable act of kindness.

In-person Mesa Temple Visitors' Center
Thursday, December 14, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

This Is Who I Am—This Is What I Want You To Know about Me

It’s an understatement to say that many problems in the world exist because we don’t know enough about one another. First and foremost, it’s difficult to have empathy for someone and to act with compassion toward that person if we don’t know what it’s like to be that person. The late Anthony Bourdain hosted a wonderful television series, No Reservations, that introduced viewers to people around the world in such a way that made viewers realize that humans have much in common, no matter where they live and what their identities are. Bourdain was skilled at asking questions that got people to talk about who they are and what they want others to know about them. In this workshop, we will discuss questions that help let others know who we are and what we want them to know about us. Following the discussion, we will write for a while and share what we have written. Everyone is encouraged to share, but no one is required to do so.

In-Person at Tempe Public Library
Wednesday, January 3 11:00a.m.–12:30p.m.

Online
Tuesday, January 2, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqd-uqrzMqGdcPU2nHYrB1tSSgY2Z6Ojlk

Saturday, January 6, 10:30a.m.–12:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpfu-hpz4sG9cSZiDrF9xXnyegmpYQIT_d

Reflections on Love in Our Lives

Because love comes in many forms, and people experience those forms in diverse ways. Scholars who write about love, have identified at least eight forms: philia (affectionate love), pragma (enduring love), storge (unconditional familial love), eros (romantic love), ludus (playful love), mania (obsessive love), philautia (self-love), agape (selfless love for others). The word “philosophy” literally means “love of knowledge or wisdom,” which explains why one kind of graduate degree is called “doctor of philosophy.” In this workshop, we will discuss some forms of love that each of us has experienced. Then we will write and share our writing. 

In-Person at Tempe Public Library
Wednesday, February 7, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Online
Saturday, February 3, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtcOmtpjouGtBFpIg_qqBVjdy975pQeSWe

Tuesday, February 6, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsd-ipqDovHNYJLw_CFcnYQ-eLV6T2oR-H

Weaving Cultural History into Our Family History Writing

Sometimes family historians have only names, dates, and places for ancestors. But the more we gather names, dates, and other genealogical facts, the more we yearn for more personal connections to and understanding of those who came before us, found in stories about their lives and accounts of their daily struggles, hopes, and dreams. How can we enrich the stories that we write about our ancestors if we have relatively few details about their lives? Duane Roen will talk about using cultural/social history to flesh out the stories that we write about ancestors. Such history can give us a better understanding of what our ancestors experienced.

In-Person at Tempe Public Library
Wednesday, March 6, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Online
Saturday, March 2, 10:30a.m–12:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vdumvrzIjEtS654uQspYoCULa9BShIpOU

Tuesday, March 5, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAucO-qrD0qHdBSRzhn4uvSePf2lYOowt4G

A Practical Joke (Where No One Got Hurt)

Throughout life, most of us have participated in practical jokes—as instigators, observers, and/or targets. In this workshop we will discuss practical jokes that we and our friends and family have participated in. We will also write about our favorite practical jokes.

In-Person at Tempe Public Library
Wednesday, April 3, 11:00a.m.–12:30p.m.

Online
Tuesday, April 2, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscO6sqzgpE9YUKqdZsFmyn1UxkwlkgO4b

Saturday, April 6, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItcu2pqjIvHNff_sDfRUBfufNeAwraoRGR

Random Acts of Kindness

Even small acts of kindness can positively affect both those who perform those acts and those who receive them. In this workshop, we will discuss acts of kindness that we have participated in. We will consider why and how we and our friends and family engage in acts of kindness and what the experience has been like. We will each write about one especially memorable act of kindness.

In-Person at Tempe Public Library
Wednesday, May 1, 11:00a.m–12:30p.m.

Online
Saturday, May 4, 10:30a.m.–12:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMufuivqDksEtAKzRLgGDBI0rg9hCgyNxPN

Tuesday, May 7, 6:30–8:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ofuigqTIrEtV6XeA40fRqOGBXKNHNZVCH

The Butterfly Effect in Our Lives

The butterfly effect is the concept that small things can have a chain of unexpected consequences. In this workshop, we will discuss how some seemingly small things have affected our lives and the lives of family and friends in ways that we would never have expected. We will each write about one of those experiences.

In-Person at Tempe Public Library
Wednesday, June 5 11:00a.m.–12:30p.m.

Online
Saturday, June 1, 10:30a.m.–12:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqdOmtrjspHN3UzeGoK7xHXbpkm6p1H0j8

Tuesday, June 4, 6:30–8:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwoce2spjopHdA_U_VKRAhrsF-VWJ_2uoxt

Message to the World—Sharing My Motto for Life

In this workshop, we will discuss our views of life and how we have lived life. We will consider how we might present those views at mottos on a poster, headstone, t-shirt, coffee mug, bumper sticker, sign, or email signature. Each of us will do a rough design for one or more of these media.

In-Person at Tempe Public Library
Wednesday, July 10, 11:00a.m.–12:30p.m.

Online
Tuesday, July 2, 6:30–8:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcOugrj8jHNValnY2960BP_2MYlxQkjv3

Saturday, July 13, 10:30a.m.–12:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItf-ipqT4pHdHWxy7aC-F1QbUTRvQV3NVG

Making a Family Recipe Book

Family cooks and bakers have favorite recipes. Some of them may be recent additions to the collection; some of them may have been passed down for generations.  Some of them may be written down, but some may exist only in the chef’s brain. While these recipes yield delicious food that family member enjoy, they also are surrounded by stories about family—e.g., a grandparent preparing a dish that we craved as children, a parent wearing a special apron while cooking or baking, friends and family gathered around the dining room table to enjoy the food and one another’s company. And if we are fortunate, there are photos related to these recipes—e.g., a photo of the food item itself, a photo of the family sharing the meal, a photo of our grandparents’ old wood-burning kitchen stove, or a photo of a family member preparing the dish, or a photo of a grandparent.  In this workshop, we are going to share our memories about recipes. Each of us will also outline a family recipe book that includes recipes, stories, photos.

In-Person at Tempe Public Library
Wednesday, August 7, 11:00a.m–12:30p.m.

Online
Saturday, August 3, 10:30a.m.–12:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tc--rqD4tE9f0lrMlLjXrtafN2aImPUsE

Tuesday, August 6, 6:30–8:00p.m.
https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErcu-rpjojH9C114fjqHTONko3PDzjTi57