What's wrong with Miss Polyanna?

It's Thanksgiving weekend and I just read one of my favorite blog's by Holly Becker of Decor 8. She describes what she's thankful for and asks her audience to comment. A discussion arose on the theme of positive thinking and the Pollyanna syndrome. Interestingly enough, this is a topic I think about daily and my views on the topic are what is forming the overall theme of The Desha Show.

What is wrong with thinking positively? Some people are annoyed with us positive thinkers. They say "you don't understand because you don't know hardship". So, if life is really bad, than it's hard to think in a positive light? And it's easier for those who are "more blessed"?

I agree with Holly that being positive is more a state of mind that one can have regardless of their life experience. In fact, some people who are hit hard, mange to have the most success. Look at Oprah W. who grew up poor and was sexually abused as youngster. She had it rough, but she was intent on making her life BIG. And I think you all can agree it certainly is. But, what of those who have the same experience as Oprah and do not make it big, but continue to suffer in poverty and worse?

My personal belief is that we get what we focus on in our thoughts. Have you ever met a person who is constantly experiencing bad things? Car broke down, lost keys, in the middle of a divorce..... as they continue to focus on this drama, more comes, and more and so on. It happens to the best of us.

Thinking positively means that we allow ourselves to move beyond the negative things that sometimes occur, and CHOOSE to focus on the brighter side, and magically for those who do this, there is a brighter side to life. And then you ask, what about all those suffering people who have nothing in less fortunate countries? Well, I've been to many of those countries and I have seen immense joy coming from those who are poor monetarily, but they are rich in joy. I've also seen those who have it all and are depressed. My point is, it's not about what you have or don't have. It's about what you choose to feel, the story you choose to tell about your life and what you choose to focus on.

I'm not saying it's easy to do, but choosing to be happy is a state of mind that we can all achieve, if given the focus.

But how? How does one evoke joy when you feel bad? As my friend Craig Cullinane says, "Gratitude is the key to Abundance & and  Joy". If I find myself feeling bad, I try to think of something I'm grateful for. Try it. It's impossible to be angry or super sad when recalling what you are grateful for.

Okay, so, here's what I'm grateful for (not necessarily in order):

1. My beautiful, healthy family
2. My warm, cozy home
3. My amazing friends
4. My career
5. My show and it's evolution and all those helping me to make it happen
6. My intention buddies in both circles

I am so thankful for the joy in my life, for my travel experiences, for my personal growth and for all those who support and encourage me. I'm grateful for role models, mentors, and spiritual guides. I'm grateful for books. I'm grateful for beauty, both natural and man-made.

Oh yes, and I'm ever so grateful for Anthropologie.

xoxo desha

on practicality: a quiz

WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
(answer below)

My oven blew out several months ago (3, 4?) but I've been searching for the perfect chandelier for even longer. When you're on a budget, how is one to choose? The practical oven, or glistening chandelier?

I find that I often have these dilemmas. Like when I took my 3 yr old to Mexico to escape the cold last Jan and convinced my best friend from CA to bring her 5 month old and meet me at the airport in Cancun. Practical? If my daughter wouldn't have gotten a bad cough, and that cold spell wouldn't have passed through, it would have been PERFECT.

Or, like when I was 12 and had a key made to my mothers car while she took a nap. Practical? Not so much, but industrious for sure. And it did get me to the mall when I skipped school.

And today, I took the day off and drove an hour and a half to New Haven, CT to spend some quality time with my friend, Anthropologie. It's okay, my boss knows (why do you think they made such a thing as personal days? To go to the Dentist? Don't be silly.) 

Now, don't get me wrong, I can be practical. I get myself and my daughter to work and school just about daily. Pay the mortgage. Cook dinner (sometimes). And do lots of other practical things, like buy a Subaru instead of a convertible (well, the one with giant  sunroof). BUT, sometimes a girl just needs to have some fun, no? Thus, instead of diligently paying off my visa, I opted to purchase this lovely silk dress.

Need I say more? 

Silk!

 It's light, it's airy, it's SOFT. 

It actually seems to float. 

It's the perfect remedy for these cold dreary days. 

So maybe it is practical to treat yourself sometimes.
Isn't keeping your sanity through a little sun and silk, practical? 

My Answer to the Quiz:
You'd be surprised what a toaster oven can do :)

AND THE WINNERS ARE....

10 amazing dancers/dance groups performed for a full house on Sat Nov 6 at Luminz dance studio at the

Brattleboro HOT Dance Contest. Thanks to all those who helped make the night so brilliant!

~ I couldn't be more pleased~

  

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

Artis Cummings won the $500 first prize performing an amazing mix of Lyrical Hip Hop & Animatronics. 

I met Artis at Look Park in Florence, MA over the summer. He was doing flips in a field and I was like, "hey you need to be in my dance contest." He started dancing right there for Iyla & I, and that was that. He attends HS in West Springfield. Isn't he just a doll?

Okay, speaking of dolls, how about Marshall Jarreau, coming into a VERY CLOSE second place winning $250 with an ELECTRIC mix of Afro Jazz. Absolutely amazing. 

Performing a creative mix of Capoeira, Modern and African Dance, Jahnavi Newson won 3rd place. I love that growling mix that came in towards the end: FIERCE.

Here we have a lovely pic of Dakini Borealis performing a beautiful Improv Piece with Multi- Media. 

I just love these kids from W. Springfield, Mhercaedeez Pinkney & Gary Allen really ROCKED it with their Jazzy Hip Hop Mix. So much energy and so much joy. 

p.s. guys, I'm really glad you didn't fall off my ROOF.

Who doesn't love Gershom Moore?? A local talent, we all see this guy around town, and I finally got to see him perform his unique Temple Rockin' style. GO G.

I LOVED the quirky, creative Euro-Pop performance by Brooke Paige and Meg Van Dyck. 

                                                                                        

Jaskarm Desjardins (can you think of a more beautiful name?) performed an edgy Hip Hop piece.

I think she needs to be the spokeswomen for girl power. Don't you?

How can I tell you how much I love watching Cyndal Ellis with her Tribal Fusion Belly Dance?

In one word: SENSUAL. 

Abdou Sarr & Fleurita (not shown) came out like a burst of lightening and the energy did not slow down with their explosive African Sabar dance. Are we in Brattleboro???

Thanks again to Aurora at Luminz, Craig my handsome co-MC, Ian on film, Ezra and Matt on set up, my awesome judges, Richard Oaxaca on FIRE, all the local businesses who donated to the cause, and most of all to the dancers who took a risk and shared their passion with us. 
Thank you.




THE CONTEST WILL BE AIRED ON BCTV ON NOVEMBER 27 AT 8:30 PM!