the appreciation videos

I have been taken by the wisdom of the appreciation letter ever since I read Martin Seligman’s book Authentic Happiness.  I have written two such letters and decided to make video’s for each, as I like the idea of both the recipient and me being able to view it again and again.  The experience of composing and delivering these appreciation videos has been profound.

The first appreciation video I made for my husband, Yoram.  I gave it to him as a Holiday gift.  He loved it and said it was the kindest thing anyone had ever done for him.  I loved both the process of thinking about and making the video and perhaps even better was his surprise and heartfelt emotion when I viewed it with him. He travels extensively and has downloaded it to his computer for when he needs a pick me up while half way around the world.

The second video I just completed is for my mother.  We live 10 hours apart and it is not possible this year for me to return to Michigan to deliver her tribute in person.  I will be sending it on DVD in a care package for her birthday.  I cry every time I watch it and I can hardly wait for her to view it. I know she will both laugh and cry.

My disclaimer for this video is that our entire family has this crazy sense of the absurd.  We developed the ability to laugh and joke about the un-jokable as a means of coping with the stress of  the looming death of both my grandmother (Muggy) and my dad (Clarence.)  Fifteen years my life from age 15-30 involved a family members terminally ill diagnosis or recovering from a life threatening illness.  I believe this shaped my macabre sense of humor and the uncanny gift of being able find levity in challenging times.