by Lorraine Briggs

The Wikipedia Encyclopedia defines syndrome this way: In medicine and psychology, a syndrome is the association of several clinically recognizable features, signs, symptoms, phenomena or characteristics that often occur together, so that the presence of one feature alerts the physician to the presence of others. In recent decades, the term has been used outside medicine to refer to a combination of phenomena seen in association.

The dictionary defines Pollyanna as “excessively optimistic person”… In other words, a positive thinker. To sum that all up someone who has the Pollyanna Syndrome is one who finds cause for gladness in the most difficult situations.

You are probably familiar with the Disney movie entitled “Pollyanna” that came out in 1960. The movie was taken from a book written by Eleanor Hodgman Porter in 1913. If you are unfamiliar with Pollyanna, she was a little orphan girl who came to live with her aunt in a small town that had its fair share of grumpy people. She was noted for keeping her chin up during disasters. She would play a game she called the ‘glad game’. For every negative she would look for a positive.

When Jim, the editor of the Town of Burlington website, asked me to submit a ‘happiness’ article I told him I needed to give it some thought. Not because I couldn’t think of anything to be happy about, but I needed to narrow it down. There are many reasons why I am ‘glad’ to be living in this community. I finally decided to write about my wonderful neighbors. All of our neighbors.

Take for instance the lady that lives next door to me. She always has a smile on her face and a kind word or two coming from her lips. She allows her dog to visit with my family and I. That brings us happiness and her dog is happy too because he gets a dog biscuit. If we go on a trip she takes care of our mouthy cat. Even though I know our cat can be a handful, not to mention irritating, she never complains, she gladly does it.

Then there is the wonderful couple down the road. They live close to the cemetery. My daughter will walk to that cemetery. She enjoys learning about the local history. She spends her time there weeding around the headstones. What I appreciate about this couple is that they keep and eye out for her while she is there. This makes us happy. This couple also enjoys walking. They do it mostly, I’m sure, for exercise, but when they see trash alongside the road they pick it up. They are conscience of our environment and keeping the community beautiful. This should make us all glad.

My parents live in the next town over, same community. They are getting older, that is just a fact, even though most days they won’t admit it. They work hard, like most do, to keep their home and property nice but it isn’t always easy. Last winter after a heavy snowfall, don’t ask me which one, a man I’ve known most of my life, since we were neighbors growing up, just decided to plow their driveway for them. It is not an easy driveway either, I know, I’ve done my fair share of shoveling it. My parents offered him payment but he refused. He went away happy knowing he helped them and they were happy too.

Another neighbor of mine will just stop by with a friendly “hello, how are you?” My husband gives him wood shavings so he can use it for bedding for his animals. In turn this neighbor will drop off some food once in a while(best steak we’ve ever eaten). But it is more than just that. He is very knowledgeable and when he stops by to chat I learn so much from him. On his last visit I learned why many of the tree tops are turning brown and why we should drink organic milk(homogenized milk isn’t good for us). He is upbeat and positive. Neighbors like these reinforce the fact that this is a great community to live in.

So, while Pollyanna was just a little girl with a big dose of positive mental attitude, we can learn a thing or two from her. I’m not saying we have to turn into her, but when you think about it, positive thinking is the only sensible way forward……..Do me a favor. Play the ‘glad game’….right now. Take a minute to think of something positive(perhaps a nice neighbor)….What have you got to lose?….You just may be happier.

editor’s note:  Lori is the proprietress of the Owl and Moon gift shop in the village of West Burlington. See the Businesses section for more information.