Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where no one complained or criticized or gossiped?” my pastor, Rev. Patty, said one Sunday. She had been inspired by the book A Complaint Free World, by Will Bowen.
As ushers passed around baskets holding purple rubber-band bracelets, she asked us to wear a band and to switch it to the other wrist anytime we said something negative. The goal was to make it 21 days with the bracelet on the same wrist. Experts say it takes 21 days to break a habit.
I didn’t take a bracelet. I didn’t need one. I was a positive person! Besides, I thought the bands were ugly. Not long after that, I realized that my life was out of balance. I was more impatient and found myself snapping at people.
Something made me think of Rev. Patty’s experiment. Maybe I wasn’t a totally positive person after all. I dug out a lavender cloisonné bracelet that I’d had for years and slipped it on my right wrist. When I yelled at a tailgating driver that afternoon, I moved the bracelet to my left wrist. I moved it back over to the right that evening as I caught myself gossiping.
I became aware of when my attitude darkened and took steps to change it. The longer I was able to keep the bracelet on the same wrist, the better I felt and the more people wanted to share my company. I still wear it as a reminder to live mindfully.
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