OLLI Talks: Cultivating Forgiveness (DRAKE HALL)

Embark on a journey toward inner peace through the practice of forgiveness and its deep connection to emotional well-being. Inspired by Dr. Fred Luskin’s groundbreaking work with the Stanford Forgiveness Project, this course provides tools for releasing resentment and creating space for happiness. 

Together, we’ll explore the link between forgiveness and healing, learn simple relaxation techniques, and uncover barriers that may be holding us back. Through poetry, reflection, and practical writing exercises, we’ll begin to cultivate forgiveness and gratitude as everyday practices for a more peaceful, joyful life. 

Manuel Arellano is an experienced instructional designer, trainer, videographer, and facilitator who has worked at Hewlett-Packard, Broadcom, and Hach. He brings a lifelong passion for personal growth and meaningful learning to his work with OLLI learners. Known for translating complex ideas into transformative insights, Manuel now co-facilitates courses with poet Veronica Patterson that support emotional well-being, self-reflection, and healing. Their OLLI classes blend poetry, guided writing, and conversation to help participants explore and apply powerful themes of personal renewal. 

Veronica Patterson’s poetry collections include How to Make a Terrarium (CSU Poetry Center, 1987), Swan, What Shores? (NYU Press Poetry Prize, 2000), Thresh and Hold (Gell Poetry Prize, 2009), & it had rained (CW Books, 2013), Sudden White Fan (Cherry Grove, 2018). And two chapbooks: This Is the Strange Part (2002) and Maneuvers: Battle of the Little Bighorn Poems (2013). Patterson graduated from Cornell University (Phi Beta Kappa), the University of Michigan, the University of Northern Colorado, and Warren Wilson (MFA Poetry). She was Loveland, Colorado’s first Poet Laureate, serving from 2019 through 2022. 

Notes

• A current OLLI membership is required to register for all courses and lectures. 
• If you do not have a Fall 2025 membership, one will be added to your cart at checkout. 
• OLLI membership fees and course tuition are critical to the Institute's sustainability and are non-refundable. 

Testimonials

• Manuel's class is interactive and thoughtfully created. His slides make the information easy to understand.
• Veronica elicits new ideas and challenges her students to explore.