The Glad Game

By Linda Caporali, TSYS Account Executive

“What men and women need is encouragement. Their natural resisting powers should be strengthened, not weakened…. Instead of always harping on a man’s faults, tell him of his virtues. Try to pull him out of his rut of bad habits. Hold up to him his better self, his REAL self that can dare and do and win out! … The influence of a beautiful, helpful, hopeful character is contagious, and may revolutionize a whole town…. People radiate what is in their minds and in their hearts. If a man feels kindly and obliging, his neighbors will feel that way, too, before long. But if he scolds and scowls and criticizes—his neighbors will return scowl for scowl, and add interest! … When you look for the bad, expecting it, you will get it. When you know you will find the good—you will get that…”

― Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna

I love the movie Pollyanna.  The other day, I said “there are at least 800 ways to be glad and rejoice” to two of my children who are 26 and 21. The 21 year old looked at me bewildered.  The 26 year old said, “Is that from that movie you use to make us watch where the little girl fell off the roof?”

Pollyanna’s philosophy of life centers on what she calls “The Glad Game,” an optimistic and positive attitude she learned from her father. The game consists of finding something to be glad about in every situation, no matter how bleak it may be.

There is something to be said about the movies that some of us grew up with that taught us a lesson, values to follow, coping skills, negotiation techniques, charity, simple enjoyments, and yet were still entertaining. Perhaps, if we were to adopt more of these traits and skills there would be more cohesion at work, home and life in general.

Now, I don’t believe that we all have to watch Pollyanna but I do recommend it.   I do favor other Disney movies too!  There have been Disney movies that teach us the circle of life, Ohana,  and Hakuna Matata!