Day 1: How I Became "Pollyanna's Protege"

Hayley Mills is probably most well-known for her role as "Pollyanna." She was the relentless optimist who saw and/or made everything around her better.

Much like her, I am a relentless optimist, which is why I will be spending 365 days blogging about my experiences as a true life Pollyanna. It will be a two-fold deal.

PART ONE: I will mention the day's kindness(es) shown. 

PART TWO: Each week, I will go out of my way to do something really cool, unique, new, or classy. I will make a concentrated effort to do something that benefits other people, as well as to help make myself into a better person. Doing this more than one time a week is of course permissible ;) but my goal will be reached if I manage to do it each week. I did this very thing one summer while in college, and those memories still stick with me. A friend of mine even told me he was positively impacted by how I daily recounted it on my then-xanga blog. 

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Anyway, to give you a little background on why I'm doing this blog, let me tell you about a big life change I made 9 months ago. I moved from Chicago, IL on May 10th, 2009 to Fort Lauderdale, FL to pursue some job leads. My whole life has transformed since I stepped off that plane. (This is the first time I've lived outside of Illinois for a long-term deal.)

Note: I adore living in Florida, but in my heart, I will always be a Midwest girl, with a little Florida thrown in :)

It's funny, because while I've been here, Floridians have sweetly warned me about South Florida's reputation for being snobby or downright rude. So far though, I've had to disagree with them. I'll tell you what I've told everyone else here:

I have not met ONE jerk. Okay, well there is one person who kinda flaked out on me here, but these things happen and she has a lot of insecurities, so I will let that slide. (Plus, I had some part in things fizzling out. Besides, I wouldn't call her a jerk.) Mostly though, I've only met good, kind, smiley people. I'm including people driving on the road. (If you think people are crazy drivers in Chicago, come to Florida. As someone with far too much enjoyment for fast driving, I admit to kinda liking it.) Everyone here seems so happy! I think it's the constant exposure to the sun, quite honestly, as well as the nearby ocean.

For the past week, I've been toying with the idea of starting a blog dedicated to talking about all the "good news" that happens to me here. In fact, the other day, a friend of mine told me that she wishes there were more reports in the news of good things that happen. I attribute this blog in part to that comment.

So, while I might reference flashback memories in order to capture the extreme kindnesses I've been shown in Florida, it will mostly be a present-day blog.


Day One:

I've been planning to go to the beach tomorrow all week. So, I extended an open invitation to anyone who wanted to go, via facebook update. About 4 comments down, after 2 Illinois friends commented about wishing they could, I wrote a "disclaimer" of sorts, in reference to something a friend jokingly told me last week:

"Let the records show that I am only posting this to invite people, not to gloat to my Illinois friends about the weather :( I was recently told by someone that he thinks this is what I do lol."

The next comment I got was from my dear childhood friend Darcelina: "I know you are not capable of gloating! :o) No worries!"

That seems minor, but I always appreciate the kind things people tell me. 

Now, since she's from the Midwest, you could technically argue that this doesn't count. So, here's a bonus, honorable mention of something a resident Floridian was responsible for: my boss, Omar.

Yesterday was a huge deal day for me for many reasons. (I came to a wonderful compromise with my new boss about my role and hourly wage in the company I just joined a month ago.) To start the day though, he gave both me and his other employee each a big box of chocolates for Valentine's Day. (Not in a sleazy way; more fatherly.)

As for the thing I'm responsible for, I will have to think of something by the end of the weekend and report back then.

For anyone who has seen "Ugly Betty," they would instantly recognize the key role as a modern-day version of Pollyanna. (I'm super bummed that it's being cancelled after only 4 seasons.) So, to end for the day, I'm going to quote a recent episode (Ep. 12: "Blackout!"). I apologize for it being so long, but yet I also don't because it fully captures what kind of person I want to always strive to be like.

Mark: How could we be so stupid? Meade is like Electric Everything. We're never going to be able to get in. Once again, life has pooped on the head of Mark St. James. That's it; I've had it.

Betty: Wait, where are you going? We've just made it all the way here!

Mark: No, no I don't want to hear it. The only reason that I tried to reach above my means is because of you; because I thought, what would Betty do if she were in my position? She'd be all like, "Oh, reach for the stars and unicorns and lollypops and, and sunflowers." So why can't I? Well [crazy throaty laughter] look at me! This is why! [Sighs] I have had it up to here [hand at chin] with your sunny optimism.

Betty: Yeah? Well, I've had it up to here [hand at forehead] with your negativity. All you ever do is complain. "I'm Mark St. James. Everything bad happens to me. I never get what I want. I'm always the bun." Have you ever tried just once to think happy thoughts?

Mark: Oh please. What do you want me to do? Clap if I believe in fairies?

Betty: Yeah, I want you to clap.

Mark: Fine! [Puts things down on sidewalk and claps fast motion with her] I believe in fairies Betty! Come on out! Don't forget your fairy dust!!

Betty: That's good!! [Still clapping]

Mark: Thank you. [Still clapping] Thank you very much.

Betty: You're welcome. [Still clapping]

[Lights come back on at Meade Publishing. They freeze, scream, jump up and down, and hug briefly.]

Mark: Come on!

Betty: Yay!!!! [Very upbeat and Betty-like as she throws her arms in the air.]