Unpacking Your Life Stories
In 2024, Pat rolled out a new interactive workshop, Unpacking Your Life Stories, which helps those moving to smaller quarters identify the stories in their stuff and pass them along to others who may not have room for the actual items. Rightsizers who swapped stories and tips for getting through the process at community workshops have given it rave reviews.
Here are a few of their comments:
I came for some commiseration, as well as resources and experiences. I found them all!
There are stories connected to everything! I will approach rightsizing differently as a result of attending.
I like the idea of taking photos of items that are too large to keep.
This event started our own conversation about what next steps my husband and I needed to take in ‘right-sizing’. One of the best parts of the workshop was hearing what other people were doing to wrestle with the same issues we have. Pat was great at facilitating this exchange of ideas and then added her own insights.
This workshop helped me think about the issue of losing treasures emotionally. I think I will approach righsizing differently as a result. I would absolutely recommend it to others.
Great facilitator!
This workshop was done well, organized, and on schedule. I like the way we split into small groups with others who share rightsizing issues
It was good to hear how others were dealing with the challenge of rightsizing. After attending, I’ll approach the process with a bit more zeal
I loved sharing rightsizing ideas with other participants. I’ll be setting a schedule for myself!
Here, too, are comments on Pat’s presentations about laughter and stress relief:
From Nationwide employees who attended a brown bag presentation about laughter and stress relief:
Great brown bag topic! I had fun!
Presenter definitely has a love of life and understands the stresses of the workplace
This was great!
Laughter is a serious matter!
This brown bag was a nice pick-me-up!
From those attending a workshop with laughter exercises, called “Don’t Let The Dog Eat Your Planner At Work”:
Thanks, Pat, for your enthusiasm. Fun! Fun!
Great! Loved the exercises! Ho! Ho! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Very relaxing. Enjoyed releasing stress.
Very entertaining, informative and FUN! I really enjoyed the lawn mower exercise!
Thank you! Nice to put “life” in a larger perspective.
From a workshop participant at “Belly Laugh To Your Aha! Moment!”:
We had an amazing time, laughing and telling tales. I haven’t felt so relaxed and happy in a long time.
And prompted by a keynote, “Don’t Let The Dog Eat Your Planner”:
Great speech, with lots of calm, restrained humor…. Your skills as a writer come through in your voice.
