Have you ever read or seen the Play by Thornton Wilder, called Our Town? Some folks call it the greatest American Play of all time. For me, it holds perhaps the most powerful message of my life. Without spoiling it for you, it involves a young woman who has died and gets to go back to her town for one day. She sees her town through eyes of deep appreciation and gratitude for the beauty and specialness of all that she sees. She is so excited to see the mailman, flowers, birds, and trees. She tries to tell this to the townspeople but they can’t hear her and would they listen anyway? She would give anything to stay longer but she has to go back to heaven.
It took my breath away the first time I saw it and heard the message. I strive to be grateful and appreciative for each day, but if I am being totally honest, I kind of lose the plot. I lose it in the stress and strain of life. I lose it cuz I get involved in icky situations and I think I lose it cuz my brain like all of our brains, has a negativity bias. This bias was designed to protect us from the proverbial Saber Tooth Tiger when we were cave people which is a good thing. The thing is it tends to get a little stuck on the negativity.
I have been given many opportunities in life that are second chances and like the young woman in the play, was filled with wonder at life and promised myself that I would always live in a state of gratitude and appreciation for the gift of each day. Although I do live life fully and with gratitude, the wondrous gift of each day kind of wears off after a while and is replaced by feeling less gratitude than I would like.
It is not just me who has experienced this and I think it is a lot to do with the way our brains are wired. One of my clients has just literally been given great health news, so great in fact, that it has given her a second chance at life. So, has a new opportunity to enjoy and create the life she wants. (no I do not have words to express how happy I am for her). She wants to be sure she does enjoy life and not ” slip” into complacency and the same old same oldness of life.
Our brains have what you call neuroplasticity, I know quite the word isn’t it? It means that we can change them by changing what we think and believe. Our brains are capable of laying out new tracks, yes they have the grooves of the old tracks, but by thinking, feeling, and doing new things we can change the grooves in our brains. It takes time.
In case you are wondering what this has to do with the Play, let me tell you. The young woman went around her town with wondrous eyes and heart seeing all that was so special to her. She focused on those things and felt it in her heart and body. I think we can Make Gratitude a Habit by focusing on it.
This is what I am going to do for thirty (30) days. Each evening I am going to write down three things I am grateful for about the day. I think for this to work in training the brain it needs to be really, real. For example today I am very grateful that our car’s exhaust system was welded together after bombing around town like a drag racer for a week waiting for a welder. I am very grateful that Ruffus who was acting tired has his old pep back and I am super grateful to curl up with my husband on this cold rainy day and watch a movie,
The theory is that after 30 days our brains will have a new pathway that makes Gratitude a Habit thus, supporting my goal of living in wondrous appreciation.
I invite you to join me….for details click here.
Warmly,
Coach Susy