Life legacies needed in hospice

I recently visited an assisted living facility. I met with a wonderful woman who was 91 years old. She is in good health. She had the most amazing stories...stories that only she holds. Although there are over 10 grandchildren, no one has taken the time to write her story.

If that same woman was in hospice, I wonder if the desire to write her story would be different. The words, "hospice" imply limited time. It creates a sense of urgency. In 91 years, we choose not to take the time to write the stories. Yet, we regret when we don't. If only we could set our watches, our cel phones with a reminder to set an appointment with our parents, or our grandparents to write their story.

As I sat with this wonderful woman, I pondered how I could help more people write their grandparents story. I can offer free planners. I can offer to write the stories and even sit with your family to document the story. What I cannot offer you is more time.

If you are interested in writing the story of someone important to you in your life, contact me today, not after the holidays, but today. Lisa (949) 291-2128 or lisa@cheetahlegacy.com

Best of Heritage

Returning from our Annual Convention, I was inspired by our Best of Heritage. I am looking forward to sharing with you one of the greatest stories shared this weekend. These books are great for sharing your story, no matter what the story may be.

When the DVD is available, I will share it with you. Let me know if you are interested by leaving me a comment.

Favorite Book 20% off

I have created a large array of books. I must say that my favorite size to create in, is the 11.5x8.5 book. It is unique, class looking. I just love it. It is also rarely on sale. There are just a couple days left in the month where this book is 20% off. You don't have to be done with your book, you just have to have plans for it to get the discount. Couldn't let the weekend approach us without sharing this great photobook sale - such a deal!

Lisa Klipfel
(949) 291-2128
lisa@cheetahlegacy.com

A new death, how do I make a book?

I recently have had several questions about how to make a book about someone who has recently passed away. There are several options.

1. Offer a gift account - You can give a book credit for the family so that they can create a book for themselves. It can be very therapeutic for the family to create a book about the one they have lost.

2. Create a book with friends - Another option is to gather stories, poems and thoughts from friends to put into a book to give to the family. What a precious memento to be able to see how a family was viewed, loving and endearing.

3. Assist the family in a book - This option allows you to be a part of the process and allows the family to direct how they want the book to be. It is a great therapeutic tool, with the ability for the family to hand off items that may be too emotionally charged for them to handle themselves.

Above all, remember that this will be a keepsake that will immortalize an individual. It is the best gift someone could give...or receive.

Lisa Klipfel, MA, MFT
(949) 291-2128
lisa@cheetahlegacy.com
www.CheetahLegacy.com

Bonding in making a book

When I dropped my son off at Nana's house, he made sure to tell me that he wanted to make a book when he got back. I was touched. It was not because he was enthralled with my business, my books, or his little vacation to Nana's. It was because that he was making a statement to me that he wanted make sure that he wanted to have individual time with me to document an important time in his life. He was asking to spend bonding time with me. It was a precious moment.

Never under-estimate the power of bonding in not only reading with your children, but also the creation of a book. It is amazing what kids will think is important. Allowing a child to choose what is important and for us not to interject what we think it important during that process will allow them to increase their self esteem in the process.

I can't wait for him to return from Nana's so we can make our book together.

Lisa Klipfel, MFT

Unfortunate Death

I recently had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with a woman with twins. She had the unfortunate event in her life where her husband was murdered at work. He was being a hero during a robbery, and the robber was unpredictable.

I am assisting her create several books. Imagine the book of her husband and his life and heroism. She will be able to read about her husband to her children, but instead of telling about a fictional hero, it will be someone who is dear to their heart.

The book of his life will be a one of a kind book. It will be priceless.

If you know of someone who has had an unfortunate death in their family, let me help them commemorate their life, and remember the ways in which they were a hero.

Lisa Klipfel, MA, MFT
949-291-2128
lisa@cheetahlegacy.com
www.CheetahLegacy.com

Let the nature heal

I recently spent the week camping with the family in the mountains. It was a beautiful place. We kayaked on the lake. We waded in the stream. We hiked to the waterfall, the craters, and other local fun spots.

It reminded me of many things in life.

Take the time to relax
Take time to laugh with your family
Teamwork is necessary in life
Teamwork allows you to reach farther
Silence is golden, allow yourself to reflect
Simplification in life is possible
Kids love sticks...and rocks

Nature heals the stress of the rush of everyday life. If you find yourself caught up in this stress, think about taking a weekend, a day, an hour to emerge yourself in nature.

Lisa Klipfel

Framing Signing Party

Yesterday, I attending a Framing Signing Party, a now common party being thrown in the Southern California area, as families are rebuilding after the fire. As we rounded the corner to their property, you could see the large house framed up on the hillside. We turned in to the recently black ominous lot. The bushes were growing again and some of the oak trees had survived. The previous dome shaped house engulfed in the Southern California Wildfires, was now a new boxy entity.

My son pops out of the car with his dozen Sharpie Markers in rainbow colors, asking where he can sign the house. We greeted our friends and helped set up the food for the BBQ, while me son tugged at my shirt. Our friend told him he could write anywhere in the house, but to make sure he did a prayer upon completion. He choose the biggest wall and created symbols of protection. Little did she know she would get a whole army of Clone Troopers to protect their house.

Soon people started taking the markers, choosing the area of the house to leave their wishes. People left comments of good wishes. Some left prayers. Some left long notes. But all said a prayer, whether it was public or private that a tragedy of this sort would never happen to this family or any loved one again. The mood was of excitement for the couple to move forward with their life, the new life of this new home, yet of somberness with an empty house, the loss of possession, the loss of photos, the loss of everything.

When we left, we were once again reminded that the moments in time that we share with others is what makes up our existence. To preserve those moments in time are what we do best at Healing Through Story. Time is forever, but a moment is fleeting.

Lisa Klipfel, MA, MFT
(949) 291-2128

An After Thought Leads to Friendship

I did an event to raise awareness of my Healing Through Story mission. Most of the passerbys were people who love to take photos. Every now and then someone would be touched by one of our stories, such as "My Last Conversation with Mom". One woman lingered. She read one story, then stepped aside as I talked with another visitor. We chatted a little, then she read another. We chatted some more and then she left. A little while later I saw her lingering at the entrance and we talked some more. She was deeply moved by the books I had on display, and I didn't dare tell her I had so many more I didn't have room to put out. It turns out that she is a therapist. She saw right away the healing power of the books - those who have created it and those that have received it. She runs groups helping people realize their dreams through The Secret and discussed incorporating vision cards and vision boards into her groups, along with many other uses. I thought about her as I drove home and how quickly she got the message, the healing, the power of story. I can tell you without talking to her, that she did not sleep that night, as there was an email from her early the next morning wanting to join in the Healing Through Story mission. I am blessed to be able to share this story and this mission to others.

A Mission of the Heart

My mission is to help as many people heal through story that I can. I need the help of therapists, social service organizations, parents, healers, survivors to help me with this journey. It is not one that is easy. It is not one that is quick. It is one of great rewards, mostly emotional as you touch the lives of others, healing their hearts.

This mission involves training on how to interview and write stories. I will provide that. This mission does involve compensation, knowing the commission of products will go to organizations in need, or compensating journey goers for their time. This mission involves dedication to healing those who have a great story to tell. This mission involves those who are willing to take in other's pain and glory and provide them with a most magnificent book that has more value than is imaginable.

If this is you, please join us. Tune into our call on Monday.



Lisa Klipfel
(949) 291-2128

Happy Mother's Day

I was recently forwarded a video of about an animal that took on the mothering duties of babies that were not her own. What possesses an individual to choose such altruism? Humans do this every time an adoption occurs. Yet it is taken for granted most of the time. It is something to be honored, noted and taught. It is something to be preserved. If you have an adoption story, I want to talk with you.

Happy Mother's Day to all.





Hospice needs our books

While doing a scrapbooking event this weekend, I met a woman whom we chatted with for a long time about our books. When I asked her about what she did, she replied that she owned a hospice. I explained the healing nature of our books, and the tremendous need for every person who received hospice services needs to write their life story, she agreed. Whether or not hospice is in someone's life, their story needs to be written. Hospice only sets a more urgency, and a timeline of when it needs to be completed. If you know someone who has hospice services, I encourage you to contact them today to write their story. When we speak of writing your story, and someone pops in your mind, I encourage you to call them and we can set up a conference call on how to get started on their life story. Do it now. Take the time.

Everyone has a story to tell.

Lisa Klipfel
Independent Heritage Makers Consultant #202068
(949) 291-2128

Create an account at www.CheetahScraps.com

The wife who healed her grief with his story

Last year I was contact from a client who wanted to reorder copies of a book she had made of her husband. I smiled when I saw her name. I remember how sweet she was. She was so excited to meet me at the street fair. She’d even thought of joining my team, but she had many other things on her mind. She had a 6 month old, who was squirming in the stroller, and her husband caressing her arm. She then told me quite in passing that her husband had brain cancer and wanted to do a book for him.

We talked several times, but she got busy with driving him to treatments. She even opened up a coop of daycare for people who’s families needed daycare during cancer treatments. Right before father’s day, I noted that she’d published her book. She said it came early, and the family was so excited about the book, they couldn’t even wait until father’s day to give it to him. It was a joyous time.

When the email came into my box, I smiled because I thought of the connection that this family shared, the love she had for him, and the joy in his eyes when he looked at his daughter. The email unfortunately was sad. He was losing his battle with cancer. She reordered the book for key family members, and soon I’d gotten another email that he had passed on.

Although it had a sad ending, the beauty was that his story was written for his daughter. His story was written, so that his wife could smile each time that she read his story. His story will live on forever. Perhaps one day, she will be a speaker at one of our Healing Through Story events...perhaps someday, his story will live with you.

Educational Books

We can write any book you want with Heritage Makers. There are some very interesting educational books that have been written. Some of these are your basic notes about tortoises, but the intricate books of someone's illness, their treatment, their support and their recovery are riveting. It's a delicate issue, but so needed to share with others who are going through the same illness.

If you want to share about what you are going through, contact Lisa to assist you in your book and how to share it with others.

Social Stories for use with Autism

Social stories are a way to teach kids how to behave, or react in socially predicable ways. Children with autism don't take in the social cues to respond in ways that would be expected. A social story is created to show what typical responses are for certain situations. It may address a behavioral issue, or targeted to reduce a stimming behavior.

If you have someone in your family, or that you are working on that a social story might be a way to help them, contact me for assistance in creating your social stories.

Lisa Klipfel
(949) 291-2128

A Cancer Survivor Story

As I was raising money for the Cancer Coping Center this weekend, I met some amazing people with incredible stories. Although several people were cancer survivors, many were not. One woman told me her breast cancer survivor story, not the discovery or the treatment, but her healing.

She created a book before digital storybooking was available. This book was about all the people who took time out of their busy schedule to assist her. She took photos of all the people who brought her meals and the people who brought her other things she needed. She took photos of people who gave her transportation, who listened to her story. She wrote about their kindness and the meaning of their generosity. She took pictures of the people in her support circle and wrote their encouraging thoughts to her. She smiled as she told me the story. She knew that the Healing Through Story mission is the beginning of a long journey that will touch many people's lives and a very important journey to be a part of.

I thank her for her sharing her story and her thoughts.

Attachment Books for kids under 5

Early attachment is important to development. There are many situations where proper attachment can be affected. A great technique is for the caregiver the child to hear a story about the caregiver and the child daily. An attachment, or bonding book, is a great source for such a technique.

An attachment book consists of how the child came into the family. If it is a natural family, this would involve the anticipation for having the child and welcoming the child into their life. If the family is extended family, foster family, fost-adopt family, or another family, this would involve how they came to live with them and the joy in being received. Depending on how old the child is, it can include their life and other bonding experiences up until now.

The technique involves reading this story to them daily, ideally where the child is sitting in the caregivers lap. If not tolerated, sitting close, or part of the body touching each other, such as knee to knee. If possible, it is a great idea to create more than one type of bonding book, so there is a variety. Other books may include a bonding event, such as they day there was a family picnic, family vacation, etc. It is important that there is a written expression of how fun, loving and important it is for the family to spend time together. Having 7 books is ideal, for each day of the week.

Fully attached children are more secure later in life, and have less emotional problems while growing up. Healing Through Story, a division of Cheetah Legacy, is available to assist you in creating your attachment book. Story planner and story maps are available.

Cat, Dog and Pet Memorial Books

Yesterday was a sad day in my life, as I lost my cat who has been a part of our lives for 13 years. She and her brother came into our home when we were married for a year and just bought our first house. The two kitten were 2 cute, tumbling over each other, and they could both fit in my husbands hand. We called them our four legged children until we had a human child.

My cat has been sick for a year, very skinny and had become a picky eater, mostly due to intermittent nausea. Over the year, I have going through the photo boxes finding those photos when she was young and vibrant. I will be scanning those photos and creating a memorial book for her. I suppose it will also include her brother who died of cancer last year.

On that same day, a friend lost her dog of 19 years, and another friend lost their cat of 15 years the week before. There are so many people in this world where their animals have become a part of their family and when they are gone, they grieve. Perhaps at time they hide their grief. They need not. I can't wait to finish my book, so I can share with my son the kitten photos, the funny stories and the love with share with our dear cat.

Breast Cancer Survivor Book

Breast Cancer Survivor

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women. It is estimated that 1.3 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer annually. These statistics you may have known. According to statistic, there will be 835,000 BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS every year. Are you one? Do you know one? This is an example of what we do to honor them.

Welcome to the Healing Through Story Blog

Since I became a Heritage Maker, I knew that the stories people created had a healing effect. Sometimes it is just as simple as processing the grief when someone dies, the ability to recall the lost loved one at any time. Sometimes it is sharing a trauma that has occurred, so that others can learn from the experience. Sometimes it is the ability to show yourself, that you are strong and have grown. It is a simple way to create a healing experience. We hope to share with you the effects writing about your experiences have had in people's lives.