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post

Disclaimer: I Am Pollyanna and I Am Okay With It

March 16, 2017 By Sue Bassett 25 Comments

Sometimes I feel the need to justify why I am positive. Sometimes I even apologize for it. Nobody has asked me to do this, it is really something that I have taken on myself, on my own will. Truthfully, I sometimes feel guilty for trying to live a positive life. It has caused me to reflect on my life and share what has led me to brand myself as Positively Sue.

I like to think that my journey of positivity began in utero. Picture it: I’m floating in a warm sea of water, being carried around for 9 months with all dietary needs met and no outside stressors. Why did I not stay there? What was I thinking?

I grew up being raised by a strong single mother for my first eight years of life because my biological father had better things to do. I am grateful though for his sense of humour and Italian features I inherited.

Then came my step-father around the age of 9, who I consider my dad and I have the utmost respect for. He is a wonderful man who legally adopted me at 16. It wasn’t an easy journey from ages 9-18, when I witnessed alcohol abuse and wife assault too often.

But here is the good news … I can truly say I am grateful for those 9 years. If the magic Jeannie came by and said I can take it all back, I would say no thank you. Now if she came by and said I can give you Botox, a tummy lift and collagen injections, I’m in! It seems these years were grooming me for what was ahead … more stressful moments, years of them actually.

As a child, I always had the outlook that things were going to get better. I managed to still have many fun times and celebrations during those years despite some really traumatizing events. You can still have shit happening in your immediate family but have Sunday dinner together, celebrate occasions, laugh and have fun. Real legitimate fun. The difference is you sometimes had to look for it harder or make the happiness happen but it was there. There was always light at the end of the tunnel for me and it happened. The drinking stopped and we healed as a family. I learned through these years that life goes on and will get better despite challenging times.

Jump ahead to my daughter’s birth … long story short – she spent 2 years in hospital, had multiple surgeries, many near-death close calls and the list goes on. I was grateful for the resiliency I gained in those early years of my life as a child and the ability to see the light side of things. Seeing your daughter’s heart beat after open heart surgery, although super scary, will give you a greater appreciation for life. At least it did for me.

Even in my darkest times with her, I knew it would get better and it did. Will there be dark times ahead? I have no doubt. Is that me being negative? No, it’s me being real yet positive knowing I will get through these challenges. I sometimes say to people in my justification of who I am, “I am not Pollyanna you know? I have bad days too.” Then I decided to go to some deeper research on Pollyanna as I was not as educated on her story as I thought I was. It turns out that I am more like her than I thought. Pollyanna had some hard times and some down times but stayed true to who she was – an Optimist. It was always part of her. She was true to herself and I say good for her.

So, I would like to introduce you to Positively Sue.

  • I am Optimist
  • I do have bad days
  • I have sad days
  • I am sensitive to what people say to me
  • I internalize stuff often
  • I see a vibrant future
  • I get angry
  • I get hurt
  • I do dream of Botox
  • People disappoint me
  • I love Bling
  • The news is too negative for me
  • I love Tony Robbins and Dr. Wayne Dyer
  • I love life
  • I am loyal to a fault sometimes
  • I am waiting for the manual on how to raise my children, my amazing children
  • I am not always as attentive as I could be as a wife
  • I love being a working mom
  • I am an effective strong advocate for children’s’ rights
  • I swear
  • I love the women in my life
  • I have a fear of flying
  • I have struggled with unsuccessful weight loss my whole life
  • I believe that for every negative you can find two positives and I live this
  • I will listen to you if you are having a bad day and not ask you to be positive, I promise
  • I know being positive can be hard to do
  • I believe all things happen for a reason, sometimes we don’t know why but eventually we see it
  • I am a work in progress and probably will be for the rest of my life
  • I am real……

P.S. I am Positively Sue.

Filed Under: Journey of Positivity, Optimist, Rising Through Challenges

Comments

  1. Cheryl says

    March 17, 2017 at 8:35 am

    Love it! Very inspiring and real!

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 17, 2017 at 1:03 pm

      Thanks Cheryl!

      Reply
  2. Eda says

    March 17, 2017 at 9:34 am

    I enjoyed reading this. Inspiring and insightful as always Sue. I look forward to reading more.

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 17, 2017 at 1:04 pm

      Thanks Eda!

      Reply
  3. Tracy says

    March 17, 2017 at 12:41 pm

    This helps me understand your mission with Positively Sue. I will always encourage you because putting yourself out there is a “big thing”, but understanding you more makes cheering you on even sweeter.

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 17, 2017 at 1:24 pm

      Thanks Tracey!!You are awesome!Sue

      Reply
  4. Kathy says

    March 17, 2017 at 2:10 pm

    Wow Sue, that made for a great coffee read.  You write really well, your style is excellent, it’s very real, it’s like I’m talking to you.
    You are an inspiration and I love that you are sharing a bit about your past.  Be Pollyanna! It’s infectious.

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 17, 2017 at 7:34 pm

      Thanks Kathy!!!

      Reply
  5. Radavie says

    March 17, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    Sue, I love how you stank naked in front of everyone, the world and without clinching, share yourself.

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 17, 2017 at 7:34 pm

      Thanks Radavie!

      Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 18, 2017 at 11:36 am

      Thank you for your kind words!

      Reply
  6. Kim says

    March 17, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    I love that you are here! Finding you just made my day!! I LOVE Wayne Dyer too, and had an NDE as a child age three having heart surgery… but I just want to say your vibe resonated with me and inspired me. Thanks so much for.. being real!

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 17, 2017 at 7:32 pm

      Thanks Kim. Glad to have you here. I hope your child is well.

      Reply
  7. Darlene says

    March 17, 2017 at 10:07 pm

    Well done positively Sue! Very truthful, honest, sincere and definitely eye opening, you really have a way of bringing out insecurities both positive and negative (in a good light)!! Thank you, again xo

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 17, 2017 at 10:34 pm

      Thanks Darlene!!

      Reply
  8. Beverley Golden says

    March 17, 2017 at 11:06 pm

    Wonderful to get to know you through this post, Sue! What I really resonate with is this, “Will there be dark times ahead? I have no doubt. Is that me being negative? No, it’s me being real yet positive knowing I will get through these challenges.” Indeed. Life isn’t about staying positive when it isn’t authentic. Life is about polarities and we humans are meant to live those polarities. HOW we live them is the important part. Thank you for this very rich sharing of yourself!

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 18, 2017 at 12:00 am

      That’s a valid point Beverley.Thank you, Sue

      Reply
  9. Natasha Botkin says

    March 18, 2017 at 10:21 am

    Very nice post and insights. Many blessings to you. Xoxo

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 18, 2017 at 11:34 am

      Thanks Natasha!!

      Reply
  10. terri says

    March 18, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    Sue, it amazes me how much I see of myself in you. We grew up together in those early years I remember hearing queens bohemian rhapsody for the first time in your bedroom at one of our after school get togethers. I remember watching your mom make beautiful eggs for Easter and yet through all the time I spent at your home I never knew any of this. I too have had some rough trying times and as you have don’t dwell on them. I’m often asked after all that has happened and all that I have seen how am I still so positive and not a mess like others would be. For me like you there is a reason for everything, beauty in the nastiest things we just have to look through it to see it. I’m glad that we have reconnected even though we haven’t seen each other in years and am so blessed to read your posts and see how you handle life’s toughest situations with grace, humor and most of all positively! Congratulations on your blog, website and your new brand! Your doing wonderful things Pollyanna!

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 18, 2017 at 9:21 pm

      That was very sweet Terri. You have an excellent memory! Thank you for this beautiful post. Sue xo

      Reply
  11. Randy Bassett says

    March 19, 2017 at 2:18 pm

    This is a very nice blog introducing Positively Sue to everyone and explaining how being positive doesn’t mean having a constant grin, but rather it means a mindset that strengthens you at all times. I am very proud of you. I will be there with you every step of your Positively Sue journey!

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 19, 2017 at 4:11 pm

      Thank you, Randy Bassett.

      Reply
  12. Maria says

    March 19, 2017 at 5:47 pm

    So inspirational, good read. Thanks Aunt Sue, for being a positive role model in my life.

    Reply
    • Sue Bassett says

      March 19, 2017 at 5:49 pm

      Thanks Maria xo

      Reply

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