As I anticipate the final months of my presidency at Simmons, I have decided to write about my observations of leave taking. I am not a fan of long farewells or tours, but I do think that writing about important experiences clarifies what matters about them. In this first letter, I want to summarize the thoughts I offered to the Class of 2020 as they and I walk parallel paths to our departures from Simmons University.
At last Wednesday evening’s Senior-Faculty Toast, I noted that I will “graduate” from Simmons University with the great Class of 2020. I also offered a message I hope will be useful as each member of the class and I progress through this last year at Simmons.
I drew on the work of Professor Laurie Santos, a member of the psychology and cognitive science faculty at Yale University who teaches what has been reported as the most popular course ever in the history of Yale. Since it was founded in 1701, that means that this course has attracted more student interest than anything taught there in over 300 years. The name of the course — Psychology and the Good Life, or more popularly, Laurie Santos’ Happiness Class — has enrolled as many as one quarter of the undergraduate population at a given time.
Something important is emerging from Professor Santos’ work. She talks about the benefits of practicing gratitude, and they are numerous and varied. I picked one example she gave, and that is setting aside time to be grateful for what you already have. Professor Santos uses the example of a hot shower, and I reinforced this example by talking about my colleague who was joyously grateful for her hot shower after four days without power after a bad storm. As Professor Santos says, the benefits derive from “the simple act of paying attention.”
I asked members of the Class of 2020 to think about Professor Santos’ work and come to the Senior-Faculty Banquet next April prepared to share the kinds of small things for which they have been grateful. I really look forward to hearing what they share!