Playing with Pollyanna . . .

“The game was to just find something about everything to be glad about—no matter what ’twas”
Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna

One of my favourite films when I was a child was Pollyanna. That inspiring tale of a little girl who transformed the lives of everyone around her through her optimism and example . . . her ability to find the silver lining in every cloud. Truth to be told you don't find a happy life, you create a happy life, and its all about attitude.  The power of positive thinking can never be under-estimated.  We do attract what we put out, etc., etc.. Which doesn't mean to say that you are not allowed to ever get sad . . . or disappointed.  Life is filled with sadness and disappointment. But I firmly believe that happiness is a choice, and a choice that we need to make every day.

"You know I have been made to suffer from the Pollyanna books. I have been placed often in a false light. People have thought that Pollyanna chirped that she was 'glad' at everything. I have never believed that we ought to deny discomfort and pain and evil; I have merely thought that it is far better to 'greet the unknown with a cheer.'" 

~Eleanor H. Porter 

Life will try to beat you if it can. I'm not entirely sure why that is. But I do know one thing for sure, that you cannot begin to enjoy even the smallest measure of joy or appreciate it for what it truly is, if you have never experienced sorrow.  A little bit of sorrow has the ability to make the joys in our life taste all the sweeter. 

  

I don't believe that there is a single person on this earth that lives a totally charmed life.  That is a lesson that I learned from having worked for the very wealthy. Prior to that time I might have been forgiven if I had thought that having copious amounts of money might bring with it lots and lots of joy, and that being able to have/buy whatever you want in life, you could not help but be happy. These were some of the unhappiest people I have ever met.  They had not a clue about what truly mattered in life.  I learned that the more you have, the more you worry about losing it, or somebody taking it away from you.  I learned that although Todd and I only had a mere fraction of what these people had in terms of wealth and possessions . . .  we actually had far more then they might ever have in the terms of the things which matter the most.  And we were a bazillion times happier.  (And nicer!)  Money absolutely can not buy happiness, and having everything a human being could possibly ever want or need, does not necessarily bring joy.

Its not so much the million dollars/pounds in your bank account that matters,

as it is what you do with those dollars and pounds that counts.

Serving self never ever was the true

path to finding real  joy.

...

 

I could lose everything I own or have tomorrow, and sure, I would be plenty distressed about it. Who wouldn't!! But I think I would recover from the loss a lot quicker than these people might, being given the same circumstances, and I guess that all boils down to having stored up my treasures in a much different way.  I count my wealth in the relationships I have built with others, with the love that is shared.  I know and I believe that there is much more joy to be found in the giving than is to be found in the receiving.  I also believe that a joy shared is a pleasure doubled, and a sorrow shared is a burden halved.  Its all just simple mathmatics!

The pot of gold is not to be found at the end of the rainbow.

Its actually in the rainbow itself.

 

The glass is either half full or half empty.

The choice is actually

our own to

make

...

  

I was very naughty this week.  Ever since I saw the little paper models of the mugs that Susan Branch had made on her blog, I fell in love with her mug designs and none moreso than the bluebird one.  Oh how I wanted one, but in all truth, while I could have afforded the mug itself in a pinch, the postage of having one sent from America here to the UK was outrageous and so having one only ever remained a dream.  But then this week on her latest blog post she mentioned that she now had a shop here in the UK that was going to carry her mugs and so I investigated it and I *gulp* ordered one as an early Birthday pressie for myself and with NO shipping charges whatsoever!  Colour me thrilled to pieces when it arrived yesterday, a mere couple of days after I ordered it.  Not weeks like it takes for things to come from the US.  Oh yes, this is a real indulgence, and we will be eating from our store-cupboard for a week or so to make up for it, but that's okay. Its worth it.  

Its huge and totally gorgeous!  Todd is NOT

allowed to touch it.

At all.

...

Tis very delicate as you would expect bone china to be. Now all I have to decide is who to leave it to in my will. 

♥♥♥

Yes, you have to have a dream in order to make a dream come true.

 

I made what looked to be the most beautiful pie ever yesterday, with heart shaped cutouts and almonds and demerara sugar sprinkled over top, filled with strawberries and rhubarb . . .  but it ended up being just like that pie in the childhood story about the beautiful but empty pie. Inside was nothing but mostly liquid. I must have had really watery berries and rhubarb, because that was mostly all what was left after baking . . . a thick sauce with a few lumps and bits. My pastry turned out really good though, and it tastes like strawberries and rhubarb.  Silver lining to what was a huge disappointment!

And with that I best leave you with a thought for the day . . . 

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.° ˛°.Everytime I thought I took a loss,

God blessed me with something better.  .° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

Spiritual Enlightenment

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . . Peach & Blueberry Crumble.  Delish!  Healthy and low fat/sugar too!

Have a beautiful Sunday.  Don't forget!

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And I do too!