Wednesday, May 31, 2006

CarnivAOL and what is a Pollyanna..

CarnivAOL is back this week.. so be sure to check it out if you are thirsty for some good reading.  I submitted my Pollyanna entry for this week.

So what is a Pollyanna and why did I choose to use that title to go along with that post??

Well...

A long while ago.. maybe even a year or two now, some one accused me of being a Pollyanna in the comment section of my journal. It was meant to be insulting and rude but actually I saw it as a complement.  I remember seeing that movie with the young Hayley Mills in it and knew the charter was sweet, kind and got under ppl's skin for just being her loving self. So to call me a Pollyanna.. really does not bother me that much, actually it was kind of encouraging lol.

Lately I have been reading in the blog-o-sphere some dark poetry and stuff that is just opposite to who I am.  I understand it, been there, and done that but I felt that some my get the idea because I don't write moody commentary or gloomy feelings that I can be written off, that I don't have anything to contribute, that I am just not as creative.  My Pollyanna entry was me venting about that feeling and telling myself who I am and kinda taking ownership over being called a Pollyanna.  I know I am not a total Pollyanna.. I am not that good..just yet lol.. but she is not a bad person to aspire to be like in my opinion.

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about Pollyanna and how it has been used in our modern day language.

Pollyanna is a 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter that has become a classic of children's literature. A series of Pollyanna sequels (Glad Books) were later published by Elizabeth Borton.

Pollyanna tells the story of a young girl named Pollyanna who is adopted by her very wealthy Aunt Polly after her father's death. Upon Pollyanna's arrival, the dispiriting town in which her aunt lives becomes miraculously pleasant and healthy due to the gladness the child has brought.

Through the success of the book, the term "pollyanna" entered the language to describe someone who is cheerfully optimistic. It then became by extension (and contrary to the spirit of the book) a somewhat derogatory term for a naïve person who always expects people to act decently, despite strong evidence to the contrary. The real theme of Pollyanna is that she kept the spirit of forgiveness towards all and could find gladness for whatever was given her.

1 comment:

  1. Pollyanna's theme and Christ's have so much in common.  ;o)  -  Barbara

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