Boice is Pollyanna?

Have you ever seen Pollyanna? (Or read it, I suppose?) If so, then you might see, like I did, that Boice sounds a bit like Pollyanna in Chapter 14. Pollyanna is famous for playing "the glad game" in which she always tries to find the best in bad situations. Basically, she does what Boice suggests: she pushes out the negative to try and find the positive (for her in life, and for him in writing). She chooses to see the positive side of the situation. And, Boice suggest that if we let go of pessimism, we might see the "efficiency of optimism" (163) and be more productive writers. Yes, being positive about things generally reduces stress and helps you be more productive. I realize this, and in previous years, people often teased me that I was Pollyanna. I could find the positive in almost everything. However, I'm finding this more difficult in this round of graduate school. I used to feel super positive about everything I wrote and about all of the assignments I was given, but it's not that way this time around.

For some reason, it's been really difficult to let go of the negative this semester. I've been upset more than not upset when it comes to school, which is very unusual for me. I could go on-and-on, but I won't, because that's not what Boice suggests. I read the chapter on letting go of the negative, hoping that it would help me let go of it. I even watched my clip of Pollyanna, which usually gets me into a chipper mood, and I pet my cat for goodness sakes. However, the negative is still there. Honestly, the chapter just made me more upset. Maybe I just need to reread tomorrow, but as for now, Boice didn't really convince me of much. Maybe it's just that it's hard to read a chapter on letting go of the negative when you're already in the negative. I feel weird even blogging about this, since I try to put on a facade of being positive, but I'm doing it any way: that's what informal writing is for, right? To share how you're actually feeling and thinking (not just some fake version of what you're thinking)?

I want to get out of this negative zone, but it's going to take more than Boice to get me there. Hopefully some one-on-one cat time and Thanksgiving break will help. Here's some positive: we have Thanksgiving break coming up! That means time to spend with family and time to actually get our work done. Even if right now feels overwhelming and if there are literally too many assignments to complete in my planner than there is time, there is Thanksgiving Break. And, after Thanksgiving Break comes Christmas break which means a month of self-directed writing, fun with family, presents, and then a new round of classes in the spring. There. I found the positive.