Taking Flight! Photo by Kareen King
At the end of another year of creating and facilitating enriching programs for older adults, I always like to remind everyone of “The Pollyanna Principle,” a concept related to the 1913 book, “Pollyanna” by Eleanor H. Porter about a young girl whose father teaches her to play “The Glad Game” as a way to find the silver lining in every difficulty. What an important practice, especially as we age, and particularly for those struggling with health issues, loneliness, and boredom in the world of long-term care.
As part of this experience, I ask the participants to complete the following sentence, “When life gets tough, I . . .” It provides a way for them to express themselves, to learn from one another, and to enjoy a shared experience.
Please enjoy the collective wisdom from a variety of older adults as we approach the challenges and joys of a new year.
When life gets tough, I . . .
Ask for a little help.
Be thankful for what I’ve got.
Bike, piddle, and procrastinate.
Blow it off.
Buckle down.
Chew a Tylenol.
Complain to my husband.
Cry.
Cuss!
Don’t give up.
Drink.
Eat ice cream.
Fight it.
Figure out what’s the best thing to do.
First I get astonished, and then I think about it, and then I hope.
Get determined to make it better.
Get going.
Get out and be with people.
Get positive.
Get the hell going.
Get tougher.
Give it to God.
Go to my Bible.
Go visit somebody and have a good time.
Grin and bear it.
Gripe, complain, worry about things that never happen, and feel sorry for myself.
Hope for tomorrow.
Hope it’ll get a little better.
Hope, pray, and let the chips fall where they may.
I find it’s best to pull back and let things work themselves out, because they will generally work out.
Keep my good attitude and don’t let it get me down.
Know it’ll soon go away.
Laugh.
Lean on friends.
Learn from the mistakes.
Let it go by and forget about it.
Look forward instead of backward.
Look up instead of down.
Plan my escape route.
Play my music.
Pray about it.
Pray for Christ to give me strength.
Probably bitch about it.
Reach out.
Remember the good things.
Retreat.
Sing.
Sit and think about it.
Stiffen my lip.
Survive it and hope for the best.
Think about when I used to carry mail.
Think maybe it’ll be better tomorrow.
Try to adjust.
Try to correct it the best I can.
Try to drop it and think positive.
Try to shine a little brighter.
Turn my back on it and don’t let it bother me.
Wait for God to move.
Wave for help.
Whatever I choose to do will be o.k., because I’m in the boat alone, and sometimes I have to do what I have to do.
When the emotion builds up to the point of tears, I let it go and then act.
Work through it.
Yell for help.
HE: I look for you.