Oscar: (Happy to see Felix’s new optimism.) All right, you can cook.
Felix: (Throws pillow back.) Do you like leg of lamb?
Oscar: Yes, I like leg of lamb.
Felix: I’ll make it tomorrow night . . . I’ll have to call Frances. She has my big pot.
Oscar: Will you forget Frances! We’ll get our own pots. Don’t drive me crazy before you move in.
Neil Simon, The Odd Couple1 Act I, p.39-40
The character of Felix in the play, The Odd Couple, is getting a divorce and moving in with his best friend, Oscar. Understandably, he’s having trouble letting go of all the things he’s grown used to–starting with his big pot. Securing his former kitchenware would give him a chance to contact the woman divorcing him (who he’s also having trouble releasing). A frustrated Oscar points out that it’s time for his friend to try a new approach and change up his old ways–giving us today’s wisdom from the stage.
Holding on to old pots
When big change happens in a person’s life, it can be stabilizing to establish a sense of normalcy and try to duplicate everything as they had it before. Felix is doing just that because he’s struggling to accept what he’s lost and what is out of his control. In some instances, doing things the same way over and over again is beneficial. For example, the way you cook a particular dish can be good because it yields a consistently appetizing meal. But applying that type of thinking to everything in our lives breeds stagnation. Unfortunately, we can all be like Felix and want to hold on to an old pot. It offers comfort when we’re vulnerable or unsure of our next step. Once we get over the fear of things being different or unlike our normal, we can actually experience long lasting benefits.
Image by Victoria from Pixabay
Benefits of trying a new approach
Acquiring a new skill or developing a fresh approach to a rote task creates new connections in the brain. These connections expand our capacity for more. According to the Columbia Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging at Colorado State University, “The redirection of thoughts and actions will start to change neural pathways as habits begin to be replaced, and new parts of the brain are used. The brain literally starts to rewire itself with a simple change of mindset.2” Activating a previously unused part of our brain increases our longevity, which means we live longer. If that’s the case, embracing change as Felix is doing, can only promote something positive. It just may not feel that way initially.
In addition, a person’s self-esteem improves after successfully doing something in an uncharacteristic way. Someone who experiences this will also be more apt to share their results with others, making their conversations not only more interesting, but also inspiring. Plus, they may become more likely to seek other adventures–big or small–perhaps buying a whole new set of cookware instead of just one pan. Honestly, this guy or gal creating new neural pathways sounds like a fun person to invite out for coffee. Excitement is contagious, and being around someone who’s hopeful is uplifting.
Wisdom from this line
Taking an opposite approach to how we complete even one thing in our lives can get us out of a rut if we’re in one. It can also give us the added bonus of living well. In Felix’s case, a divorce is what puts him in a rut, but it’s also the catalyst for getting him out of it. Because his friend won’t let him be the same person he was when he walked through the door, Felix begins to make new plans for his future–starting with how he prepares a leg of lamb. Oscar tells Felix “We’ll get our own pots!” and start new. If you’ve ever seen The Odd Couple–the play or series (1970 or 2015), you know how rigid Felix can be. Honestly, if someone as structured as this character can change, so can we. The wisdom from this line directs us toward possibility.
- Simon, Neil. The Odd Couple. A Samuel French acting ed. Samuel French, New York. 1966. ↩︎
- Grace Weintrob. “How to rewire your brain”. Columbia Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging, Colorado State University. May 31, 2022. Retrieved on 1/3/2025. https://www.research.colostate.edu/healthyagingcenter/2022/05/31/how-to-rewire-your-brain/ ↩︎
