Founder Notes

From the Desk of Jean Haldane... (Guest Writer)

This issue we will not be featuring Jean Haldane’s regular column. She’s on vacation…“gone fishing in merry Olde England”, says Jean. Her column will return in the Fall issue of DS News!

Jerald Foster

We invited Jerald Foster, one of the Board of Directors of the Center for Dependable Strengths, to be our guest writer. He graciously agreed. Jerald Forster, Professor Emeritus, College of Education, University of Washington, collaborated with Bernard Haldane in 1987 to establish the Dependable Strengths Project at the University of Washington. He, along with Bernard Haldane, Jean Haldane, and Allen Boivin-Brown, later developed and implemented 5-day DSP Workshops designed to prepare professionals to help others articulate and use their Dependable Strengths. Jerald was one of the founding members of the Board of Directors for the Center for Dependable Strengths.

By Jerald Forster

For some time now, I have been aware of the value of focusing on positive experiences. My awareness has been strengthened by my familiarity with the research studies that demonstrate the clear-cut benefits of positive emotions, optimism, and hopefulness. Of course, my involvement with the Dependable Strengths Articulation Process has provided me with innumerable opportunities to see how focusing on Good Experiences and articulating Dependable Strengths can improve a person’s life. Recently, I witnessed how a family member with terminal cancer benefited from focusing on positive experiences. Let me tell you more about what happened.

Katherine, who is in her late 60s, is a member of our extended family. Unfortunately, she was stricken by breast cancer several years ago, and even though she fought the disease for years, the cancer has now metastasized in her bones and some of her key organs. With the aid of pain-relieving medicines, she now feels fairly normal and she has accepted the help of hospice workers. She has been enjoying extended visits with her children, grandchildren, other family members and close friends.

My wife Kate and I recently spent a few days of quality time with her. I took along my digital camcorder and asked her if she wanted to record some of the stories of her rich, productive life. She liked the idea, thinking especially that her grandchildren and their descendants might enjoy the stories some time in the future. She told the stories and I prompted her some as I recorded. My prompts were often to encourage her to tell the stories that we call Good Experiences in the Dependable Strengths Process. She told wonderful stories and I now have more than four hours of stories to edit and distribute. As is the case when people talk about Good Experiences in DS workshops, Katherine’s eyes sparkled and she looked beautiful as she expressed her passions and her meaningful experiences.

Not only did she enjoy the process of making these video memoirs, but also she has since told us that she enjoys replaying them when she is alone and reflective. She tells us that she has watched the tapes more than once and that each time she remembers more about these past situations. She re-experiences feelings of satisfaction and happiness as she watches the tapes.

I am enthusiastic about this experience of encouraging Katherine to recall and articulate some of her most treasured memories. I urge you to consider similar undertakings with yourself and with others in your life. It is so important that we all focus more on our positive experiences. This is a basic ingredient of the Dependable Strengths Process and we must not forget that it is a basic ingredient of life satisfaction and happiness.