Pollyanna?

Pollyanna?

by Bon'Oregon

So many natural disasters recently, worldwide...So many of us have recently lost loved ones, or are experiencing our own health scares and traumas...the world and it's economics and politics are scary. Then there is 'the small stuff', and we know we shouldn't 'sweat the small stuff...but we do.

Just yesterday, I flushed the toilet...or tried to, but nothing happened...just a clicking sound. Water to the shower and tub, fine. Water to the sink, fine. Water to the commode, nothing. Obviously, this needed fixing, NOW! So, out to the garage to hop in the car for a trip to the hardware store...dead battery. Damn, DAMN, DAMN!!! Long story short, all's fine now, but it did make me think. It's those 'little things' that we take for granted each day, that~~if not there at the flick of a switch~~can bring our lives to a screeching halt.

This little mini-drama reminded me that I need to get in touch again with the 'Pollyanna' I used to be...glass always half-full, always mindful when making entries in my Gratitude Journal to be grateful for the bad things that DIDN'T happen on any given day.

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(stolen from the web):
The popular 1913 novel, Pollyanna, introduced the Glad Game. Its author showed how the use of the Glad Game could contribute to the mastery of stressful life events and daily hassles. The Glad Game consists of developing the habit of not dwelling on dysphoric emotions in relation to life's disappointments or threats. The player is taught NOT to deny negative emotions, but to turn one's attention away and to think of something one could feel glad about in the situation.

The title character is Pollyanna Whittier, a young orphan who goes to live in Beldingsville, Vermont, with her wealthy but dour Aunt Polly. Pollyanna's philosophy of life centers on what she calls "The Glad Game", an optimistic attitude she learned from her father. The game consists of finding something to be glad about in every situation. It originated in an incident one Christmas when Pollyanna, who was hoping for a doll in the missionary barrel, found only a pair of crutches inside. Making the game up on the spot, Pollyanna's father taught her to look at the good side of things—in this case, to be glad about the crutches because "we don't need 'em!".
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Sometimes, this life really sucks! Some days, what you and I are going through together or alone seems unbearably unfair. Anyone have an anecdote or more thoughts on gratitude for the bad things that DON'T happen or that could have been so much worse? I could use a chuckle, and a reminder. Perhaps others feel the same. As I write this, Glynis just posted about (bad news) puncturing and having to replace tires, but (good news) doing so in a safe place and before any life-endangering accident..........glass half-full!!!