Dr. Ellen Langer

I had experienced a major fire that had destroyed 80 percent of what I owned.

The next day I called the insurance company.

The agent came and he said, my goodness, this was the very first time that the damage was worse than the call.

Most people, oh my God, oh my God.

And then he gets there, it's not so terrible.

And that wasn't the way I was because I had already lost everything.

Throwing my sanity and sense of calm after that was just going to cost me more rather than less.

I also realized that everything I had in that house represented who I was rather than who I am right now.

And it was an opportunity to reinvent myself in some way, in a small way.

Right after the fire, since I didn't have my house any longer, I moved into the Charles Hotel, and I was a sight to be seen.

There I am with my two little dogs and whatever.

It was Christmas Eve.

I went out, I came back, and my room was full of gifts.

not from the management of the hotel, not from the owner of the hotel, but from the so-called little people, the people who parked my car, the chambermaids, the waiters and waitresses.

I can't tell you.

It took me years to be able to tell this story without it bringing tears to my eyes because it was just so sweet.

Every Christmas, I am reminded of the basic goodness of so many people.

So, you know, when you think about it, I don't remember what I lost.

And I do remember the warmth that I experienced.

It was actually on whole a positive experience.