Page 189 - Resources and Support for the Online Educator

Gratitude 13

around the world (Horton, 2018). The good news is that individuals
can make small efforts to recognize what they have to be grateful for
and move toward more positive feelings and actions. The better news
is that one person can encourage others, both directly and indirectly,
to spread feelings of gratitude throughout their own spheres of
influence.
A classic example of this phenomenon is found in Eleanor H. Porter’s
time-honored children’s novel from 1913, Pollyanna. An orphaned
child (the title character) comes to live with her aunt, who is a cold,
unhappy person. During the course of the story, Pollyanna changes
not only her aunt’s view of the world but that of many townspeople
through her ability to express gratitude and practice kindness. The
profound impact of these changes is realized when Pollyanna is tempo-
rarily paralyzed following an accident and those whose lives she has
touched rally to help her find the good in this terrible event.

A bit corny, perhaps, but intentional focus on expressing gratitude
helps not only the individual but everyone with whom that person
interacts. Just one person can influence others by practicing gratitude
quietly and consistently. In turn, those who pick up on this “attitude of
gratitude” will influence their families and friends as well. Give it a try!

Technology and Gratitude

The idiom “keeping up with the Joneses” comes from the title of a
comic strip created by Arthur R. Momand and published in several
U.S. newspapers from 1913 to 1938. The strip depicted the lives of the
McGinis family, who measured their own level of social and material
successes by comparing themselves to their neighbors, the Joneses,
who never actually appeared in the strip. Needless to say, the
McGinises continually struggled to measure up (Pritchard, 2013).

Being envious of others is part of the human condition, but it is also
fair to say that since the early days of readily available, inexpensive
print materials, mass media has helped intensify these feelings of
jealousy. Technologies—including movies, radio, television, and now
the internet—make it even easier to experience discontent with our
lives. Although the internet alone cannot be blamed solely for anyone’s
sense of dissatisfaction, it is reasonable to acknowledge that all forms

Pathways to Well-Being: Helping Educators (and Others) Find Balance in a Connected World 189