“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns,
or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
How we look at things is certainly governed by our past experiences,
but you can choose your attitude toward the outcome.
Learn from mistakes or be consumed by them.
Forgive misgivings or harbor resentments.
Look on the bright-side or seek the worst.
Words are funny little things too.
Words can evoke an emotion or project an attitude.
That’s why words can hurt and emails can be misconstrued.
As I pondered my choices of attitude and words, I felt the name of this blog didn’t really convey my feelings accurately any more.
Why did I feel I was struggling to stay positive?
Because I was pushing against the negative.
We struggle when there’s a fight. When we feel we aren’t being heard.
What happens if we stop struggling?
The resistance is no longer there.
We surrender to what is out of our control.
I can only choose how I look at things, how I react, how I feel.
And I’ve realized one thing for sure –
Positivity is a choice.
So rather than Wrestle and Struggle, I will Embrace and Choose.
Welcome to the next generation of my blog!
Embracing Pollyanna
Choosing To Stay Positive in a World of Negativity.
It may seem like a small change. A tweak in language. A waste of time even.
But to me it is a shift in attitude, in perspective, in feeling.
You may wonder why I have chosen, yes chosen, to keep ‘world of negativity’ if I am so geared toward the feeling of positivity. That is because I feel we are so bombarded by negative media and messages.
And although I have no control over that, what I do have control over is what I choose to subject myself to and what I choose to put out into this world.
What can you expect?
I will continue to post about
- the positivity I see in the world
- thought-provoking talks
- heart-warming messages
- my thoughts as I move throughout my small world and the great beyond
What you will see more of, however, are stories about:
- our environment
- those who are working hard for the benefit of others.
I admit that these stories may not always, in fact may not often, portray a positive situation but they will be stories that I feel not enough people are aware of.
They are realities of our world that we must face and do something about sooner than later.
I’m hoping that by learning about them, you will feel empowered to effect change.
Once aware of a problem, we can make educated choices thereby achieving (hopefully) a positive result.
Awareness = Education.
Education = Informed Choices
Informed Choices = Empowerment
Empowerment = Positive Change
That is my hope.
That is my intention.
I want this to be a place where you can come to feel uplifted, inspired, educated and driven to make a positive difference in the world.
Where you too can Embrace and Choose.
So rejoice, because thorn bushes are chock-full of fragrant roses.
Are you with me?
If you find my blog by URL, both http://www.embracingpollyanna.com and http://www.wrestlingpollyanna.com should – fingers crossed – get you to the same place. 😉
photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/smb_flickr/468886018/
Embracing Pollyanna 
I love how you repeate “choose” throughout your piece. Things in life are often beyond our control, I think that it’s how we choose to perceive and react to them that ultimately defines us. People trudge through their lives without realizing that happiness is always an option.
You are so right! Thank you so much for your comment.
What choices have you made that have added positivity to your life?
That’s an easy one, my wife and daughters immeasurably enrich my life,
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing that.
As a self proclaimed word geek…I love your change in wording and attitude. Waste of time, you ask? Absolutely not!!! Words have power and you, my friend, embody the very essence of a powerful and positive change. I look forward to your next blog and every one after that.
P.S. Gorgeous photo showing your new happy ‘place’!
Thank you so much for your very kind words. It means a lot!
Best to you.
Hope to see you here often.