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SUMMARY:Sparkle & Scribe: Longevity + Journaling Experience
DESCRIPTION:Are you looking for simple\, sustainable ways to improve your health and boost your energy? Do you want to feel more in control of your daily habits? \nThis interactive workshop will help you build a strong foundation for long-term well-being. You’ll explore science-based strategies that support your physical\, mental\, and emotional health. You’ll also take time for guided reflection and mindfulness. \nMichelle Dooley\, Certified Longevity Coach at SPARKLE Longevity\, and Christine Witt\, founder of PurposeFull Goods\, will lead this engaging session. Together\, they’ll share practical lifestyle strategies you can use every day. \nYou’ll discover how small\, consistent habits can make a meaningful difference over time. Through mindfulness and self-reflection\, you’ll also learn how to make more intentional choices. Leave with practical tools and fresh ideas to help you create positive\, lasting change. \nTopics we’ll explore include:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat Longevity Really Means:Learn what longevity means and why it matters in today’s fast-paced\, high-stress world. Explore research inspired by the Blue Zones. Then\, discover what their everyday habits can teach us. \nThe 4 Pillars of Longevity:Explore four key pillars of longevity: food as fuel\, mindful movement\, sleep and recovery\, and stress reduction. Learn simple strategies you can start using right away. \nHabit Stacking for Real Life:Learn how small changes can lead to lasting results. Discover how to add new habits to your existing routine. This approach can reduce overwhelm and make consistency easier. \nMindfulness & Journaling for Clarity:Slow down and reconnect with your intentions. Christine will lead a calming meditation and guided journaling exercise. You’ll reflect\, reset\, and connect your goals to your daily habits. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou’ll leave with:\n\nA clear understanding of the core principles of longevity and how to apply them in everyday life\nSimple\, actionable strategies to improve nutrition\, movement\, sleep\, and stress management\nA practical approach to habit stacking that makes change feel manageable and sustainable\nA guided journaling experience to support self-awareness and personal growth\nA take-home journal to continue your practice beyond the workshop\nA complimentary longevity eBook program with recipes and structure to help you build momentum\n\nThis is more than just a workshop.  It’s an opportunity to invest in yourself\, build better daily habits\, and leave with tools you can use right away to support a healthier\, more energized life. \nMeet the Sparkle and Scribe Team\n \nMichelle Dooley:  Michelle\, aka Coach Dooley\, is a Certified Longevity Coach and founder of SPARKLE Longevity\, where she helps women over 40 reclaim their energy\, build strength\, and age vibrantly by focusing on four key pillars: nourishing food\, mindful movement\, restorative sleep\, and stress-minimizing daily habits.With credentials from AFAA\, Les Mills BODYPUMP\, OTFit\, Healthy Moms® Perinatal Fitness\, the Longevity Coach Institute\, and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition\, she blends science-backed guidance with real-life simplicity through her signature SPARKLE method: Simple Principles And Recipes to Keep Living Energetically. She currently coaches and teaches at Orangetheory Fitness and Lake Forest Health and Fitness Center. Known for her humor and relatable style\, Michelle brings her signature “I put the FUN back in fundamentals” energy to every class\, workshop and coaching session\, empowering women to create a joyous lifestyle that lasts a lifetime. \n \nChristine Witt is the founder of PurposeFull Goods\, a wellness brand that blends the science of scent with guided journaling to support self-discovery and intentional living. A passionate mental health advocate\, Christine believes that the simplest analog tools — a journal\, a candle\, a quiet moment of reflection — can be some of the most powerful catalysts for lasting change. Drawing from her own lived experience navigating life’s transitions\, Christine has made it her mission to help others slow down\, tune in\, and build wellness rituals that actually stick. Through Purposefull Goods and her work as a community advocate\, she creates space for people to reconnect with themselves with curiosity\, compassion\, and a little bit of joy. In this workshop\, Christine will guide participants through a grounding meditation and journaling exercise designed to help you reflect\, reset\, and bridge the gap between intention and everyday habit.
URL:https://gortoncenter.org/event/sparkle-scribe-longevity-journaling-experience-october/
LOCATION:Gorton Center\, 400 East Illinois Road\, Lake Forest\, IL\, 60045
CATEGORIES:Adults,Art,Classes,Specialty,Wellness
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261006T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261006T200000
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SUMMARY:Creative Writing
DESCRIPTION:Unleash Your Creative Voice\nHave you always wanted to try creative writing but stopped yourself before you began? Or maybe you’ve written before and want to reignite your passion for storytelling? If so\, this class is designed just for you. \nIn a supportive and encouraging environment\, you’ll be gently guided into the world of your own words and ideas. Through fun and engaging exercises\, you’ll learn to silence self-doubt and give your creativity room to grow. You’ll discover the joy of writing from your unique perspective—free of judgment and full of possibility. \nAs you explore different writing styles\, you’ll unlock your authentic voice and learn how to bring your stories to life. Whether you’re crafting fiction\, journaling\, or experimenting with poetry\, you’ll find inspiration and confidence along the way. \nWhat to Expect\nCome ready to have fun\, take creative risks\, and surprise yourself with what you create. Creative writing is a powerful form of self-expression. Regardless of your age or writing experience\, it’s never too soon—or too late—to explore where your words can take you. \nThis course welcomes everyone\, from complete beginners to seasoned writers seeking a fresh start. Together\, we’ll build a space where ideas can flourish. \nAbout Your Instructor – Melissa MacTaggart\nMelissa MacTaggart brings a multi-layered background in writing and the performing arts. She has worked as an actor\, producer\, director\, playwright\, theatre company creative director\, and drama teacher. With over 25 years as a freelance writer\, Melissa has experience in a wide range of genres. \nHer work includes: \n\nTwo original plays produced in Los Angeles during the Beverly Hills Livesummer season\nA bi-monthly column\, Urban Suburban\, for The Chicago Tribune Suburban Network\nNine years as a ghostwriter for an online magazine\, covering topics from gardening\, environmental awareness to sustainable living.\nArticles for the Daily Herald Chicagoland content creation for various websites\nSongwriting and lyric composition\nHer youth novel ‘The Wren and the Dream Maker’ was published in October 2025\n\nMelissa’s deep love for language and storytelling continues to shape her creative journey\, and she is excited to help you begin—or deepen—yours.
URL:https://gortoncenter.org/event/creative-writing-october/
LOCATION:Gorton Center\, 400 East Illinois Road\, Lake Forest\, IL\, 60045
CATEGORIES:Adults,Classes,Specialty
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261010T130000
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SUMMARY:Good Grief Pet Loss
DESCRIPTION:Coping with the Loss of a Pet\nJoin Jessica from the Animal Hospital of West Lake Forest for a heartfelt session on understanding pet loss. This event is for anyone grieving a pet or supporting someone who is. \nPets are more than animals—they are family\, companions\, and sources of comfort. Losing them brings deep grief that’s often overlooked or misunderstood. Jessica will explain why this loss feels so intense and why it’s different from other types of grief. \nNavigating the Emotions\nPet loss can trigger many emotions\, including sadness\, guilt\, loneliness\, and anger. These feelings are valid and real. Jessica will help participants better understand these reactions and explore the emotional impact of losing a beloved pet. Mourning a pet can be difficult in a world that may not fully acknowledge that loss. Jessica will talk about the lack of societal support and the importance of recognizing the pet-owner bond. \nFinding Healing and Offering Support\nThis session offers tools and guidance for healing. Jessica will share strategies to help you move through grief and support others on their journey. Whether you’re personally grieving or want to be there for someone else\, you’ll leave with insight and compassion. \nEveryone Is Welcome\nAll pet lovers are invited to attend. This session creates a safe\, understanding space to honor your pet’s memory and learn how to cope with loss from someone who truly understands. \nJessica is a CVT who has served the Lake Forest and surrounding communities at the Animal Hospital of West Lake Forest since 2004.  She is a wife and mother of 4 with 4 dogs of her own. She is passionate about helping navigate the various aspects of pet loss.  
URL:https://gortoncenter.org/event/good-grief-pet-loss-october/
LOCATION:Gorton Center\, 400 East Illinois Road\, Lake Forest\, IL\, 60045
CATEGORIES:Adults,Classes,Specialty,Wellness
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