| Copyright (c) 2009 Sahara Damore | | | | Of course this attitude is put to the test throughout the |
| I have been called a "Pollyanna" before and never | | | | story by her "not so enthusiastic" Aunt who creates |
| really thought to ask more about that. In fact, I wasn't | | | | scenarios to break Pollyanna of her optimism and |
| even sure if it was ever a compliment or not to be | | | | smile. It does not work. |
| honest. And I was even quite sure it was not! I mean, I | | | | However, Pollyanna is put through the ultimate ringer |
| know Hayley Mills played Pollyanna, but I did not | | | | when she is hit by a car and told she would not walk |
| understand at the time the depth of this character in | | | | again. |
| the film or the original book. | | | | Suddenly, she could not find anything to be glad about. |
| Then just yesterday morning, I received my daily email | | | | Meanwhile, many town members began calling |
| from the Abraham-Hicks Foundation. OK, LOVE them. | | | | Pollyanna's Aunt to tell her how much encouragement |
| It said: | | | | they received from little Pollyanna and how it improved |
| "We would demonstrate to everyone that we are | | | | their lives. |
| cheerful, that we are optimistic, that we are happy, that | | | | This snaps Pollyanna out of it and she reminds herself |
| we are looking for the best-feeling thought that we | | | | how glad she is to have legs. And as a result of being |
| can find - and that we've practiced it so much that we | | | | temporarily disabled, Pollyanna appreciated her legs |
| often find it. And then, as people say to you, in | | | | even more when she learned to walk again. |
| accusing tones, "Oh, you are a Pollyanna," announce to | | | | Yeah, I would say now that being called a Pollyanna is |
| them, "Pollyanna lived a very happy life." | | | | a compliment. Anyone willing to truly find the good in |
| So, of course I had to rush and Google Pollyanna to | | | | every situation is a real hero to me. |
| find the whole scoop. She was sounding like my kind | | | | The world can appear a very cruel place at times, with |
| of girl for sure. | | | | unexplainable events and circumstances that arise. |
| As many of you know (or may not know), Pollyanna is | | | | Placing ourselves in the awareness of appreciation |
| a character from a best selling novel written in 1913. | | | | and finding the good in situations is as easy as a shift |
| Her philosophy of life centers on what she calls "The | | | | in perception yet feels as hard as moving a mountain |
| Glad Game", an optimistic attitude she learned from | | | | at times. |
| her Dad. | | | | Come back to that "What's Right" list we have spoken |
| Basically, the game consists of finding something to be | | | | about. |
| glad about in every situation. One Christmas when | | | | Use it. Practice actually being in the space of seeing |
| Pollyanna was hoping for a doll, she received a pair of | | | | more good and what's right in your life. |
| crutches, so her father made up the game up on the | | | | "When you look for the bad expecting it, you will find it." |
| spot and taught her to look at the good side of things. | | | | I think it's OK to see the good and the rainbows. |
| In this case it was to be glad about the crutches | | | | Be kind to yourself and others. |
| because, as her Dad said, "We don't need 'em!" | | | | |