Living and Leaving Your Legacy®
At one time or another, most of us have asked ourselves these questions:
What life lessons have I learned?
What do I want to pass along?
What do I want people to remember about me?
What gives my life meaning?
Together we will examine these questions and many more. In this four, six, or eight-week course, you will be inspired to reach new understandings as you explore your life and its meaning. The main focus will be living a life that matters.
By the end of this interactive class, you will be on your way to putting your priceless legacy into an ethical will, a loving legacy letter, a journal, a memoir, an autobiography, a scrapbook, a letter, an oral history, and more. It will be a gift to yourself and to your loved ones, perhaps for generations to come. For starters, all you will need is paper and a pen.
This can be tailored into a workshop of one to four hours as well as a one or two-day workshop. I am willing to travel in order to provide this opportunity elsewhere.
I was invited to be a guest on Journalverse, which is a gathering place for those who know the power of writing to heal, change, and grow and who want to learn directly from the thought leaders, authors, and experts in the field. As a legacy educator, I was delighted to share ideas about the gift of legacy journaling which we give to ourselves and to others. Click here to hear the telecast.
During the Miami Jewish Film Festival 2021, I had the privilege of interviewing Mitzi Goldman, the producer/director of “A Letter for Life.” Click here to view the interview.
FOR FUTURE LEGACY SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND WORKSHOPS,
SEE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.
Unfortunately, all in-person classes have been canceled due to the COVID-19 virus. We will resume as soon as it is safe to do so. If you are interested in attending a legacy class or organizing a class with others, please contact Merle R. Saferstein at
merles1212@gmail.com or fill out the contact form.
All classes are open to anyone interested in participating.
Some of the locations of classes in the past have been:
Temple Sinai of North Dade, North Miami Beach
Phyllis Sandler Center for Living Well, Boca Raton, FL
Bet Shira, Miami, FL
Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL
Women’s Group, Coral Gables, FL
Dor Dorim, Weston, FL
Hillel Community Day School, North Miami Beach, FL
Temple Beth Am, Miami, FL
Temple Judea, Miami, FL
Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education, Miami, FL
Institute of Jewish Knowledge and Learning, Broward County, FL
Comments from legacy class and workshop participants:
“I had no expectations going into the class but was immediately fascinated by how much self reflection was encouraged. I think all who attended now view their present, past, and future lives in a more positive and constructive way.”
“Today, I had the privilege of hosting and participating in a workshop facilitated by Merle Saferstein, at Dynamic Growth at Your Meeting Place, aka ‘My Happy Island.’ I feel so fortunate that I could spend the afternoon learning from Merle, meeting new people, seeing old friends, and sharing my special place with everyone. After completing some of the interactive exercises, it helped me to see that I am on a path for living a life that matters and where I can adjust my activities to be better aligned with my dreams.”
“Spending time with Merle is always inspiring–her authenticity, compassion, and generosity are off the charts. Slowing down to recognize and honor what is important to each of us is a great way to start ‘Living a Life that Matters.’”
“The class has enriched my life immeasurably. I recommend it to old and young alike!”
“There is an early childhood behavioral course called “Conscious Discipline.” I think I live ‘Conscious Legacy’ since taking your wonderful class.”
“I feel as though I have taken a journey in reflective decision-making. It has been nourishment for my soul.”
“The class is an ongoing experience in life–shared in a safe loving environment that fosters magical insights and personal connections.”
“After being part of the legacy class, I understand that we need to live our lives before we can pass on our values, lessons learned, and experiences to the next generation.”
“This legacy class has inspired me to lead a better, more quality life.”
“What meant the most to me in this class was the sharing of our stories and our humanness. This was a life-changing experience.”
“This class provided me with the opportunity to examine my life–to look at it honestly and openly and ask the question, ‘Am I living the life I want to live? Also, how can I live my legacy each and every day with every person with whom I come in contact?'”
“I had hoped to be able to start the process of leaving something tangible about myself and my life to my children and grandchildren. I’ve already started in ways I would never have considered prior to participating in this class.”
“This is a class that enables the participants to think about who they are in new ways. It helps them to develop a clearer picture of what they want to pass down and who they want to pass it down to. It helps the participant to bridge her/his past, present, and future in the most meaningful and useful way.”
“The most enlightening part of this class experience was sharing thoughts, feelings, and ideas between the facilitator and the participants and learning about the different possibilities for creating a legacy.”
“I definitely speak to my children differently since I started taking this class.”
“Everyone has a story! At the beginning of the class, I wasn’t too sure what the values of my life were, but as Merle so skillfully guided us, the ideas flowed from my past. I now realize that I do have a very wonderful and rich legacy to pass on.”
“This experience was a gift.”
I learned that by living my life in the best way I can, I am leaving my legacy.
“Living and Leaving Your Legacy®–eight weeks of going above and beyond my expectations each and every time!”
“The class led me to think about what’s important in my life and what I want to pass on to my loved ones.”
“I feel as though I have matured since we began talking and sharing.”
“I loved this class and especially the in-depth conversations and wonderful writing exercises.”
“Every class was enlightening because of the safe atmosphere Merle created which enabled all of us to share our thoughts and feelings.”
“I learned to think about many, many things that I now want to pass on to those whom I love.”
“If I were to describe this class to someone, I would say it was a journey of self-study that transported me from my past to my future–an out-of-body view and a perspective that shows my life has great meaning.”
“The ethical will we discussed involves what I want my children and grandchildren to know about my life as well as that of my parents and grandparents. Hopefully by them learning about the past, they will have happy, productive, and insightful lives and futures.”
“It has been wonderful to have this safe zone to reflect, contemplate, analyze, revisit, validate, and share significant life events or turning points in our lives. I very much appreciate your sincerity, candor and skilled facilitation as you guide us through simple and complex activities and questions. I have no doubt this experience will become a catalyst for many good things now and long into the future for me and others in the class.”
“I feel that this class promoted openness and honesty which led us each in different and meaningful directions.”
“If anyone is interested in living and leaving a legacy and figuring out how to go about it, this class, which stirred many emotions, is invaluable.”
“The class shows the humanity in each of us and encourages us to live in a more creative, honest, and loving way.”
“The class has helped me to look at life with a deeper and more focused lens.”
“I am so taken in by the by the accomplishments, the openness, the stories, the visions, the differences, the perceptions, the reactions, the connections, the support, the genuine interest, and the inclusion of all that mark the sessions and that are the mark of the class members.”
“The legacy class was facilitated in such an intimate way with everyone
feeling completely at ease to share their innermost feelings, hopes, and dreams.”
“The atmosphere and space was well-structured and allowed for authenticity, intimacy and focus.”
Merle R. Saferstein 