The Glad Game

OK, Pollyanna.

When I used to think of that word I thought, ‘yuck, cringe-making, boring, too good to be true’ and other such things.

Until a colleague I really respect suggested I read ‘Pollyanna’ — and I just finished it this morning. Far from being too good to be true, it’s 100% in line with RichThinking, I’m glad to say!

The story is simple — a young orphan child goes to stay with her cross old aunt, who’s only taking her in because it’s her ‘duty’. (This was written in 1913 by the way). The child, Pollyanna, brings with her a game taught her by her father, which is basically to look for something to be glad about in every situation. She practices this constantly, to the consternation of the adults around her. Pollyanna’s sweetly innocent and cheerful outlook on life thus begins to infect everyone around her, even the cross old aunt.

I loved this story, just loved it. It made me laugh and it made me cry. Laugh because of the way this little girl caught off guard all the adults around her; cry because it’s so sad what happens to her (I won’t spoil the story by telling you).

So I had an idea. Why couldn’t I play the Glad Game? No reason. So I’ve been playing it today — just with every circumstance that’s popped up. Like it was raining all morning and I had to go to the Post Office. I was glad that I had an effective umbrella.
I’ve just come back from a walk and I was glad of the presence of the ancient trees in the wood, of the fact that I can walk, unlike some people. I tell you, it makes you feel good. AND it’s RichThinking!

It’s similar to being grateful, but that can often bring with it a judgment (like ‘I should be grateful’), and it’s much less specific than glad. Imagine someone being glad and it’s easy to see a face with a big grin on it, the person feeling cheerful and happy.

So I invite you to play The Glad Game too and see how it makes you feel!

Jane