So i've been trying to avoid bad news lately. Not attempting to avoid reality. I'm a grownup, and realize things are not always going to be good. One place i've been 'especially' avoiding is facebook. Those hideous trending stories to the right of my page. All kinds of crud over there. It seems it's either about a shooting somewhere or some idiotic bit of celebrity news i care nothing about. I like to choose what i read, and even if i don't click on the headlines, the stuff still gets in my head. For me, it's like avoiding a gopher hole in the ground so i don't sprain an ankle. Or walking through an opening in a fence without having to climb over it.
I spent three hours at the library this afternoon. And even though i had my phone with me, i didn't look at it once! I know. I can't believe it either! And i have access to Wi Fi there, of course. But i looked at actual books. And magazines. Sometimes the only way not to hear bad news.. to filter it OUT.. is to unplug. Be blissfully unaware. I learn of all the stuff going on soon enough. I don't live in a bubble. And sure enough.. when i came home.. after i fed the kitties of course.. i turned on the TV machine. So and so is running for President again. There's been a 'serious' hack of government computers. (That's actually sort of frightening.) Television on for seven minutes before i plugged in the Netflix and watched an episode of Once Upon a Time. A good fairy tale is excellent every so often. As long as i remain grounded in the real world, what harm does it do? Plus the election is just about a year and a half away. And time flies. It'll be here soon enough. I've already started to turn a deaf ear. Doesn't mean i don't care. I'll just say i'm just not that into it yet. And i don't think i ever will be. I'll learn enough to make an educated decision for whom i'll vote. I don't need all the noise that i know will be around between now and then!
I'm all about optimism. Hear a piece of bad news, pat the kitties. Another bit of crud.. eat (just a little) chocolate. Even more.. read a chapter of a great book... I'll not be dragged down. The world is full of good people and good things. But those things are not sensational and don't mean high ratings for the TV channels. And facebook.. well.. not going there for a few days. I'll see how i like being away. I just might not miss it at all!
Bright red rose bush in bloom right outside our front door! How can i not be optimistic when i see this beauty every time i come and go?
Goodnight, all! Peace..
Mary
Oh look at that beautiful rose bush. My grandma had one right outside her door as well. The smells and beauty were so soothing even to a young child.
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a few news stories getting on my nerves right now, but I'm not going to talk about them here. More interested in the beauty of your rose bush.
Have a good one.
It's a good strategy to limit the media's constant barrage of bad news in our lives. Sometimes it's like an assault on our senses. There's more to the world than bad news.
ReplyDeletePretty red roses.
ReplyDeleteVery wise. We need a good balance. Too much bad news is very toxic. The world has a lot of good things in it even if the media doesn't want us to know because it doesn't sell.
ReplyDeletelovely roses, I hate bad news too.
ReplyDeleteI listen to local news and weather and that's about it. Oh I like Nova and most Pbs nature series. Other than that I read. Katie blogs but she's happy and I blog but it is usually light and harmless. I'm like you in the horrible media circus constantly whirling.
ReplyDeleteMary, I love your philosophy and I agree with it. You can't completely miss the bad news -- especially the really bad stuff. But you can learn how to pick what you need to know from the endless onslaught and then how to manage it so it doesn't bring you down. I try to do that, too, with varying results to be sure. But it's worth it.
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