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A pollyannaish person is someone who is always optimistic, almost to the point of naivet</p>
<p>There seems to be a high concentration of Pollyannish people in Washington and Oregon.</p>
<p>We have a relative who has VERY thick rose colored glasses. While she is mighty happy and sees things in a positive light all the time, she is also somewhat unrealistic in her viewpoint. She also conveys a LOT of misinformation to others as she “neglects” to tell us (the siblings) some of the things that are not so positive that we really need to know.</p>
<p>I appreciate her cheerfulness, but it also clouds her ability to see things realistically at times. And it sometimes conveys a very false stream of information on which some of the rest of us are basing decisions.</p>
<p>I think I am a realist by nature but in an optimistic way, if that makes any sense. What i mean is that I recognize problems and conflicts and tragedy, etc. but i think that there is beauty to be found in discord.</p>
<p>The comment about the Ds tombstone made me laugh. I have a relative who is elderly and a hypochondriac. I recently told him that his grave stone will say “Here lies John Doe. He can finally stop worrying about his health.” Even he had to laugh at that image.</p>
<p>Sorry, that describes me. It makes me happy to be that way and consider the best in everyone. But I know it and try not to irritate people. I am very comfortable with shutting up and letting them complain away.</p>
<p>EPTR, my grandfather, who was a hypochondriac, and was dying for my entire life (in his mind), died a couple of years ago of old age. He was 91. He spent 50 years convinced he was mortally ill. He put in his will that he wanted on his memorial stone: “See! I told you I was sick.” Grandma didn’t do it, though. (He was a funny, funny guy.)</p>
<p>I’m an optimistic kind of person. But, I’m good, too, at figuring out a way out of a mess, too. In other words, I recongnize a problem when I see one, but I’ve got an unlimited belief in our ability to make it better. :)</p>
<p>^^^^
Yes. I don’t think of that as being a Pollyanna. I think it’s important to acknowledge the problem, admit that it s**ks and then show some optimism. Optimism, to me, does not mean that nothing bad will ever happen but rather, that even if it does, everything will be okay. Different from the original plan, maybe, but still okay.</p>
<p>Lafalum 84 wrote:
She can be very gullible/naive, which I worried about when she went to college, but she seems to be street-smart when it really matters (about things like frat parties). The problem comes when she ignores little negatives in friendships, etc, and ends up being deeply hurt by friends she thought she could trust. This has happened to her more than once.</p>
<p>I was searching google about pollyanish type people. My daughter is similar to be one.She is always postive and ignores the “little negatives” with other friends then boom she will eb just dumped or ignored. This hits the nail right on the head. How can I tell her without hurting her It seems she will go from one end to the other without having the capacity to accept criticism. Am I being the problem here by worrying too much about her feelings? Lafalum84 seems to understand the issue. I hope she comments.</p>
<p>I sure do know a Pollyanna. She also owns a thick pair of rose colored glasses.</p>
<p>I used to be that way. Then I met my inlaws. My MIL said I was too Pollyannish and she was going to slap it off my face. </p>
<p>Now, I am not longer the happy, optimistic person who saw good in everyone. I met my mother-in-law. I KNOW there is pure evil out there.</p>
<p>^ Ouch! I don’t think that even Hayley Mills could get your MIL to play the Glad Game. Be sure to pick out the nursing home she deserves, when the time comes. :D</p>
<p>This is an interesting thread to come into my life right at this moment.</p>
<p>I just a lost a friend over this issue, but I am not mourning the loss.</p>
<p>This friend is so negative that when I help solve one problem instead of acknowledging that she just charges off to complain about something else. She is almost 20 years older than I, and should have retired from college teacher long ago. She claims it’s impossible financially, but she has a robust portfolio and other assets.</p>
<p>Her greatest rants now are about our students and about Jews luring us into a World War because of their inane support for Israel. Every conversation ends in one of these places.</p>
<p>I have been taking care of her at school, helping her do things that come only through computer because she refuses to become computer savvy. </p>
<p>Well, after Sandy, man there was a lot to complain about. When she started in on how LIPA has been doing a horrible job, I just quietly said, “Could be avoid the negativity?”</p>
<p>She started screaming, “Negative, negative, negative. You know, mythmom, you’ve become a Pollyanna.”</p>
<p>The combination of negativity, anti-semitism (I happy to be Jewish but not a Zionist and in sympathy of many of the goals of the Palestinians), nastiness, helplessness, and yelling pushed me to fall and I quietly said, “I would rather you didn’t call me anymore.”</p>
<p>She slammed down the phone with a “fine with me.”</p>
<p>Of course, it hasn’t ended there because she’s been stalking me at school and hurling vitriol at me.</p>
<p>I find it part of it funny because most would find me a cynic, I think.</p>
<p>I tend to depression and force myself to look at the good. I think knowing the bad is there IS vital, but dwelling on it? Not so much.</p>
<p>I loved mathmom’s quote and I do believe she strives for that.</p>
<p>Perhaps this quote isn’t as profound, but I also love this quote about Eleanor Roosevelt: “She would rather light a candle than curse the darkness.”</p>
<p>And that’s what I strive for.</p>
<p>I’d rather be around a Pollyanna than a Debbie Downer. Any day. Even if they are faking it, it’s more pleasant than a constant Eeyore. JMO.
As you can maybe tell, I am forced to be around a few constant complainers a lot of the time! Grates on my last nerve. I want to just shout “SHUT UP!!!” LOL.</p>
<p>My sister was one and was beloved by all that knew her. I sure miss her but I know she is in Heaven getting on a first name basis with everyone and having a wonderful time.</p>
<p>While pollyannish people can be annoying at times, I’d rather have them and optimists over the pessimists/chronic complainers/whiners any day. </p>
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<p>I have an older college friend who has those tendencies which got really bad last summer due to the loss of his mother and the time pressure/stresses involve in wrapping up her estate. Did I mention that not too long afterwards, he was diagnosed with ADHD…something which I and several other friends of his have suspected for years. </p>
<p>His negativity in the form of 4-5 hour long rants and his inability to take a hint when I walked out of his parents’ home to get a breather caused me to snap back and to yell at him to shut up*. </p>
<p>There’s a reason why I’m uncomfortable with serving as an emotional counselor to others and incidents like the above just confirmed that. Unfortunately, it seems I was pulled into serving as an emotional counselor to him and two other friends last year…a reason why I feel so burned out even more than a year later.</p>
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<li>He’s realized since that he was being very difficult and unreasonable to me and others involved in helping him that summer. We’re still friends though I’ve had to set some stronger boundaries.</li>
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