Pollyanna ... 'The Glad Girl'

Some four or five years ago my writers' group had invited Marilyn Vanderhaeghe, a Montreal writer, to one of our monthly meetings, to speak about her writing experiences. She also did some reporting and journalistic writings, and as she went on we realized that she wrote only about the good things that happened in the community. This was a revelation, and one member actually got up to ask her about it. Her already charming personality got more appealing for me as she unabashedly confessed to being a 'Pollyanna of news-reporting'. She said no matter what, she didn't write about any bad things that happened around her or in the community - but only the positive, and the uplifting. The reason I was so impressed with her was that as she was talking, my mind was shouting within, 'But, that's me! That's me! That's what I am - a Pollyanna! It's what I've always been, and this is what I'd like to do - be a spokesperson for all that's good, beautiful, and wonderful in the world, in life.' Marilyn's words were not new or a surprise for me, because I had heard them in my own head for years and years - but what listening to her did for me was to validate for me my own voice, to express such ideas, and hold my own before cynics, sceptics, pessimists, and others with a 'dark' view of life, and the world.

To each his own! Being a Pollyanna works just fine for me - in fact it fits me to a T - and I love 'doing' Pollyanna :-)! I remember, years ago, in India, when the morning newspaper was delivered with morbid pictures of death and destruction on the front page, I used to dream of starting a daily that I'd have liked to call The Good News Tribune, with happy pictures on the front page, so that people would start their day on a cheerful, uplifting note. Marilyn Vanderhaeghe, therefore, felt a soul-sister of sorts!

For those who could use some information about Pollyanna, and who she was, here's some information - the source is Wikipedia:

Pollyanna is a best-selling 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter that is now considered a classic of children's literature - and eleven more Pollyanna sequels, known as "Glad Books", were later published, most of them written by Elizabeth Borton or Harriet Lummis Smith.

Pollyanna has been adapted for film several times. [edit] Plot introduction
The title character is Pollyanna Whittier, a young orphan who goes to live in a small New England town 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. It originated in a disappointing mishap: Pollyanna's father mail-ordered a doll for his daughter's Christmas present, but what showed up was two crutches. Making the game up on the spot, he taught Pollyanna look at the good side of things— to be "Glad for we don't need to use these".

Consequently, Pollyanna always tries to find something to be glad about in every situation, and to always do without delay whatever she thinks is right. With this philosophy, and her own sunny personality, she becomes known as "The Glad Girl", and brings so much gladness to her aunt's dispirited New England town that she transforms it into a pleasant, healthy place to live.

Inscription on Pollyanna's brooch, a gift from her father, says: "When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." — Abraham Lincoln. The novel's success brought the term "pollyanna" into the language to describe someone who is cheerfully optimistic and who always maintains a generous attitude toward the motives of other people. At the height of her popularity, Pollyanna was known as "The Glad Girl".

I'll sign off with 'If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' :-)!

Kiki ;-) - the glad girl!

P.S. If there's someone you believe could use this, please forward it to them. If you receive this as a forward, please book mark to have it handy.