Transcript Add Title Here - Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Creating Your
Legacy
Conference for Women Living with Metastatic
Breast Cancer
April 13, 2013
Wendy Griffith, MSSW, LCSW, OSW-C
Social Work Counselor
Outline
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What is a legacy?
Why legacy?
Types of legacy
Ideas for legacy activities
Common barriers
Alternatives
Getting started
Topic ideas
Tips
Resources
What is a legacy?
“Anything handed down from the past, as
from an ancestor or predecessor”
“A gift by will, especially of money or
other personal property”
Why legacy?
“There are certain things that are fundamental to human
fulfillment. The essence of these needs is captured in the phrase
‘to live, to love, to learn , to leave a legacy’. The need to live is
our physical need for such things as food, clothing, shelter,
economical well-being, health. The need to love is our social
need to relate to other people, to belong, to love, and to be
loved. The need to learn is our mental need to develop and to
grow. And the need to leave a legacy is our spiritual need to
have a sense of meaning, purpose, personal congruence, and
contribution.”
Stephen R. Covey
Types of legacy
Hunter, E., & Rowles, G. (2005). Leaving a legacy: Toward a typology. (19), 333.
Types of Legacy: Biological
• Genetic
– Passing on genes
• Body
– Donating organs
– Donating body to research
• Health
Types of Legacy: Material
• Heirlooms
– Material items
– Written history
• Possessions
– Cars, furniture, household items, etc.
• Symbols
– Book or work of art
– Establishing a building or scholarship
Types of Legacy: Values
• Personal
– Being kind, honest, helpful, etc.
• Societal
– Importance of education
• Cultural
– Value of independence, family, etc.
• Religious
– How to be a good ____
Ideas for Legacy Activities: Written
• Letters/emails/cards
– Can be given now or saved for a later time
• Journal
– Can be used to document the cancer journey,
daily life, thoughts/feelings, etc.
• Gratitude list
• Poems
• Ethical will
Ideas for Legacy Activities: Photo
• Scrapbook
– Can be a random compilation or might be
focused on a vacation, period of time,
particular person(s), etc.
– Can be simple with just pictures on paper
or decorated with embellishments
• Photo frame or collage
– Tangible or digital
Ideas for Legacy Activities:
Audio/Visual
• CD/playlist of songs
– Favorite songs, songs that remind you of
someone/something, etc.
• Homemade recordings
– Interview style or recording of a talent or skill
(cooking, singing, dancing, etc.)
– Can be done with a tape recorder, video camera,
phone, computer, etc.
• Professional video
Other Ideas for Legacy Activities
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Recipe book
Quilt/blanket
Painting
Handprint/footprint
Heirlooms/keepsakes
Traditions/routines
Meaningful gift
Start an organization/scholarship/fund
To Honor a Loved One
• Plant a tree/flower
• Donate time/money to an organization
• Participate in activities that raise awareness
about your loved one’s disease/passion
• Become involved in advocacy or educational
organizations
• Continue established traditions or create
new ones
Common Barriers
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Knowledge
Acuity of illness
Physical limitations
Cultural limitations
Cost
Time
Alternatives
• Seek information
• Get assistance
– Medical teams
– Loved ones
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Do activities in small pieces
Use your strengths
Consult cultural/religious leaders
Use materials from around the house
Getting Started
• Methodological approach
– Do some brainstorming
– Pick a person or activity to start with
– Expand from there
• Organic approach
– Little to no planning
– Maintain awareness and take opportunities as
they come
Brainstorming
• What is meaningful/important to you?
• Who is meaningful/important to you?
• What do you want those people remember
about you?
• What do you want others and future
generations to know about you or past
generations?
• Was anything given to you that you want to
pass on?
Topics
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Relationships
– how you met, memories of them, characteristics you admire, how you made it
through hard times, the impact they have had on your life, advice about love and
heartbreak
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Childhood/Adulthood
– places lived, jobs, schools, pets, friends, lessons learned, world events
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Family history
– events, relationships, occupations
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Traditions
– holidays, birthdays, special occasions, daily routines
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Spirituality/Religion
– beliefs, values, spiritual journey you’ve been on, what you’ve found to be true
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Milestones
– birthdays, weddings, babies, graduations, jobs, first of anything
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Favorites
– food, perfume, music, movies, clothing, hobby
More Topics
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Lessons you’ve learned
Difficulties you’ve overcome
Turning points in your life
Accomplishments/achievements
Things you regret or would do differently
People you would like forgive
Words of wisdom/advice/guidance/appreciation
Hopes/dreams for yourself or others
Things you love, find humorous, find irritating, etc.
People/things you are grateful for or proud of
Decisions you’ve made and their outcome
Words of encouragement/empathy for others going
through a difficult time
Tips
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There is no right or wrong way to do this
It’s okay to take breaks
Maintain focus
Take notes whenever the mood strikes
Don’t get lost in details
Remember that anything coming from
you and your heart is special
Resources
• MD Anderson: Making Memories Last
– http://www3.mdanderson.org/streams/Full
VideoPlayer.cfm?xml=cfg%2FLegacyMaking-Memories-Last
• www.zarpz.com
• www.thelegacyproject.org
• www.ethicalwill.com or
www.life-legacies.com
Thoughts? Questions?
Contact information:
Wendy Griffith, MSSW, LCSW, OSW-C
[email protected]
713-792-9948