So today in a fit of anguish and not caring, I completely avoided the news yesterday.
It is a little harder than you might think - especially if, like me, you are someone who almost religiously follows it. But I had just reached the point of complete overload, between my own readings and listenings and the ongoing low chatter of everyone else reacting in the background. So I consciously avoided looking at or listening to anything.
And here is what happened.
The sun continued to shine. I still had a job. The rabbits were glad to see me and Poppy was ready for her walk. My garden continued to grow, with new seedlings pushing their heads out into the sun. I even learned something I did not know about how the Ancient Greeks and Romans regarded excellence. My small projects that I like to work on all go done.
And what did not happen? The world, so far as I know, has not ended. The economy has not crashed (Or if it did, I will find out tomorrow when I cannot get into work). And the events of the day, the great and the small, somehow failed to impact my corner of the universe.
An interesting exercise. I wonder what happens if I try it again today?
United Airlines was awarded a contract by the Pentagon to remove Assad from his seat of power...
ReplyDeleteSorry. Stole that from another blog I read.
Glad to hear you had a great day. Now if I could get hubby to disconnect from the news...
God bless. :-)
That is pretty funny Linda.
DeleteIt is tough to disconnect, especially if you feel like you need to know everything that is going on (that is me). I am really going to have to take it one day at a time.
Poke your head into a RELIABLE news website once or twice a day, and be done with it. It's important to know what's going on. It's also important to know what you can and can't do about what's going on (Serenity prayer). Most times, current events are like the weather; about all you can do is avoid them as they barrel through. Knowing the weather is coming though, is the difference between success and failure; of life and death... Get your news, but don't steep in it...
ReplyDeleteGood advice Pete. What I really need is something where I can get economic and international news that is reliable and non-partisan. At this point, any sort of domestic news seems to be hopelessly partisan. The economic news can be a leading indicator of domestic issues, the international of...well, international.
DeleteFor International News, I read Symbolic Mirage. He's done a little bit of everything, including writing. Most of his posts are on China and North Korea when he does them. Some of his commenters sometimes talk about finances, I think; but I can't promise that. :)
DeleteThanks for the suggestion Linda. I almost wonder if I would be better off looking for some kind of foreign press - at least I could read their domestic issues and not get so nearly worked up about it.
DeleteHe gives you links to Chinese and North Korean news websites, if that helps?
DeleteA lot of foreign news services also comment on the US, simply because our economy is so intertwined with everyone else.
Your local AG service may have a website. Louisiana has one. I'm not a farmer and have a lot of trouble keeping things alive, but I do enjoy reading what is going on in the world of where my food comes from.
Along that line I would recommend RFD TV. They do a little bit (tiny) of regular news, give weather for the country (I think they do better because farmers rely on them), and talk a LOT about farmers and farming. Again, I do like to know what is going on in the world of food, haha.
Whichever way you go, have fun and God bless. :)
Oh, I love RFD TV. My parents have it. I unfortunately do not (no cable or dish) but I bet the broadcast on this new-fangled interweb...and yes, food is ultimately very important...
DeleteLife definitely goes on without the news hounding us!! How did you feel though? More relaxed? More anxious because you were tempted to look? ;) When I gave up media, it took me a while to transition, but now I could care less about what goes on around me. I was put on this earth to enjoy life and take care of my little fur family and my boyfriend! That's all that matters to me, despite the fact that some people label me "ignorant"...I've lost interest in society enough that I just don't care anymore! And I feel happy about it!
ReplyDeleteMore relaxed over all. Certainly my fingernails enjoyed the break from the eternal shredding that occurs when I read or listen to current events. But it was hard for two days. Oh well. Maybe I can start with a news fast every other day and go from there...sure had a lot more time as a result though.
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