Let's Play a Game

When I was a child I was addicted to old Disney movies. They are not like the ones made today, they were more meaning filled, pure, full of morals and great messages and though they might have sad moments, they always ended on an up note. One that I adored was Pollyanna, based on a series of books from the early 1900's. Haley Mills was a child actress that I simply adored at the time and every time the movie came on I had to watch it. I often played her "glad game". Having a less than perfect childhood at times it made it so I could turn things around, at least for a time, as I never wanted to let others know anything going on behind closed doors.

If you are of a certain age, you will remember the movie and what the game is all about. If you are not, well it is a chosen mind set. Here is a brief over view of the Pollyanna story....( here is a link to the whole page)


The title character is Pollyanna Whittier, a young orphan who goes to live in Beldingsville, Vermont, with her wealthy but stern 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!"

With this philosophy, and her own sunny personality and sincere, sympathetic soul, Pollyanna brings so much gladness to her aunt's dispirited New England town that she transforms it into a pleasant place to live. 'The Glad Game' shields her from her aunt's stern attitude: when Aunt Polly puts her in a stuffy attic room without carpets or pictures, she exults at the beautiful view from the high window; when she tries to "punish" her niece for being late to dinner by sentencing her to a meal of bread and milk in the kitchen with the servant, Nancy, Pollyanna thanks her rapturously because she likes bread and milk, and she likes Nancy.(Wikipedia)

I have often in my life used this game to turn things around. Be it gratitude lists, like the one I do each night before bed, as well as many I participate with on line. I will admit there are times I have forgotten how to play the game or to even play at all. But recently it has popped up in several newsletters and books that I am reading...currently in the chapter on happiness in the Queen Of Your Own Life Book ......

So inspired was I by this chapter ( all the chapters really) , that I wanted to do a post on being glad, and playing the "glad game". I wanted to share how I turn bad things into glad. How I pretend to be a Pollyanna, in a good way, since like Queens states the word Pollyanna has gotten rather a bad rap over the years. I certainly have known a few and they have been down right annoying at times ( OHHH did I say that??)

My Glad Game List.....

1. I have bad teeth that hurt. But am very glad that they are still in my mouth so I can smile, smiling does not hurt!

 2. I hurt nearly every moment of every day and it limits my physical abilities. But I am glad that I can feel the pain, it means I am alive.

3. We do not have much money. Most times we only scrape by and have nothing left after doing what we have to. But, I am so glad we have enough , and it is more than others have.

4. I got a very bad hair cut. But, am glad it has given me a chance to try out a new look. 

5. I can not afford to go shopping. But, I am glad that I have learned to get by on what I own, to appreciate it more. 

6. Between hurting teeth and a lot less grocery money eating is not much fun. But, I am glad that it has helped me loose the 10 pounds I needed to. 

7. I miss owning a house , and all that goes with it. But I am glad that I do not have many chores to do each day to keep our apartment looking nice. 

8. I miss being able to drive my car, between no gas money and not being able to turn my head much. But, I am glad that I can still walk, notice more of the world around me, have dropped a size and am doing my health and heart good with the exercise. 

9. I hate that my hubby has to work 6 days a week, 12-16 hour days. But, I am so glad that the time we do have together we cherish more than we used to.

10. I get so lonely being home all day. But, I am glad for the fact that it has brought me back to writing. Dreaming. That it has connected me to a huge amount of wonderful online friends, new ones each day. 

Well you get the idea. I could go on and on.  It could be a simple list such as loving buttered popcorn Jelly Bellies, sunny patches and a purring cat, to more serious things like above. I hope now that you know how to play, you too will turn bad into glad , it really helps to turn the moment, the day and even sometimes life around if you play it. And isn't it nice to always have something to be glad about???