My goodness, there seems to be a lot of bad news flying around these days. Biblical weather systems, massacres, global flare-ups, Miley Cyrus. Shit seems to be hitting the fan faster than we can wipe down the walls. All I can do is pray for those affected. No small thing, prayer, but it's hard to keep up with all the disasters.
So I propose turning off the poo-spewing fan and following the advice of Monty Python: Always look on the bright side of life. Instead of keeping up with the news, I will over-indulge in my family and good books and celebrate:
Voyager I! I mean, how 'bout that little thing crossing over into, well, who knows what? Launched in 1977 (just like "Annie Hall," "Star Wars," and "Saturday Night Fever"), this little teakettle is farther from the earth than the Sun and Pluto. Much farther. Just tickin' away into interstellar space, with its 70's technology, sending back sounds and pictures. I suggest that whenever the urge strikes to watch the news, just track
Voyager I & II. More relaxing. Less violent. 'Way cooler.
Bob Newhart wins his first Emmy! How it took 50 years for this guy to win an Emmy, I'll never know. He is still screamingly funny (as demonstrated with his winning performance on Big Bang Theory) and always brings his A-game. In this age of horror and despair, I recommend a healthy dose of Bob Newhart. Watch his old TV shows. Listen to his classic recordings. You can find his great routines on YouTube. That's right. Turn off the news and turn on Bob.
Autumn!
“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” - George Eliot. Cooler weather. Colorful trees. Corduroy. Caramel apples. Popcorn balls. Candy corn. Fall carnivals. Halloween. Then Thanksgiving. What's not to love? Instead of watching the news, start planning your Halloween costume, make some pumpkin bread, do something creative with autumn leaves.
Yes, I realize this is the ostrich approach to current events, but I believe it's the only way to save my sanity and blood pressure. Prayers will continue, but they may become less specific and more big-picture, as I track Voyager, laugh with Bob Newhart, and kick through colorful leaves.
If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing!
4 comments:
I agree with you. A while back after someone hinted that for sanity's sake it's a good thing not to watch or read the news, I gave it a try and I after a couple of months without news as such I have to say it's a huge relief not to deal with the enormity of human stupidy, evil and pain and the way it's packaged by journalism. Of course there's no escaping the odd glimpse of it here and there (and human madness is obviously inescapable) but still, switching channels when the news is on and avoiding newspapers have brought a new kind of serenity.
I feel much lighter and brighter, more balanced. There will always be incredible, horrific things happening, mankind as a whole isn't very nice, but by doing good things myself, striving to be a better, kinder person, involving myself in good projects, doing my bit to inspire, engage and encourage others to do the same, leave a good and not damaging footprint I create ripples of goodness.
Not wanting to sound like some deranged do-gooder, but I think we can all create ripples of goodness instead of concentrating on the nastiness all around.
I'm with you, Mary. Sometimes I feel guilty for avoiding bad news but then I just stretch out my arms and begin to sing ...
Whoops, not Neil but Liz!
Whoops, not Neil but Liz!
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