The chatter surrounding Google’s fab tribute to the 30th anniversary of a great game, Pac-Man, is so odd at times. CNN reports that over $120 million had been wasted as visitors to Google’s site played the game.

Really?

This article misses the point of this historic game. The amount of discovery joy engendered by playing the game is beyond calculation. Creativity often comes from this type of play as mental exercise. In a word, Americans need to play a helluva lot more than we are playing now. Play of all kinds: games and social games. Do it for your health, your sanity, taking back your personal power from where-ever-the-hell-you-gave-it-this-week, for generativity. Go play some Pac-Man of whatever variety or persuasion and then share your experience. Is that not part of the fun of social media?

Celebrate the joy of play for daily wellness: do it and share it. @DoctorJames

Rather than being some nebulous idea, gratitude is a powerful aspect of both being and becoming more human. In the USA, we annually celebrate Thanksgiving as a feast with friends and family. On this day, it is customary for us to pause and be thankful. Setting aside a specially recognized national day of gratitude is a great idea; let us daily cultivate gratitude.

An Attitude of Gratitude

The idea of being grateful, of gratitude practiced daily, is one that is central to wellness and health, according to positive psychology. This emergent discipline of the general field of psychology focuses on virtues, strengths, and potentials of human growth and development. As an aspect of personhood, daily practicing gratitude is understood to foster peace of mind, higher quality interpersonal relationships, and a sense of prosperity, even in difficult circumstances.

Personal Application

• Choose to daily practice gratitude. Optimism will emerge and persist, for a better life for all and for the planet.
• Tell someone that you know something about them or something that they do for which you are thankful.
• Say “thank you” to someone whom you do not know for their civility or courtesy.
• Before sleeping, write down three things for which you give gratitude. Read them aloud to yourself.
• When facing a struggle or challenge, bring out your gratitude journal and read it aloud.

Here’s a thought:

Thank the gods for dirty dishes, they have a tale to tell.

While other folks go hungry, we’re eating very well.

With home and hearth and happiness, let’s not complain or fuss.

For by this stack of evidence, life’s very good to us.

May your day and your life be filled with the practice and benefits of gratitude.

@DoctorJames