What I have discovered during my years of avoiding the news is that you cannot hide from it. I only have to log on to Facebook to know what horrific things have happened in the world. If I choose to avoid Facebook, which I often do after I have learned the basic details of the current news story, I am confronted with the same stories over and over again when I go to work, the store, or anywhere outside of my home. I am quite envious of the few people in the world who honestly can avoid the news. For me, it hasn't been possible. Knowing this, I have decided the one thing I can do is make sure I don't watch or read the same story lines over and over again.
While I believe we need to care for others and try to make this world a better place, I don't believe that happens by rehashing the same story over and over again. I am a sensitive person by nature, but I honestly don't understand how people handle the news of so much bad going on day after day. For me, it gives me nightmares, which is one of the reasons I stopped watching the news. It also makes me lose hope in the world which is something I refuse to do.
Wednesday night and Thursday morning, my local town experienced a lot of rain which created flooding issues. My family and I were prevented from going to school and work yesterday due to our neighborhood roads being blocked off. Three miles from our home, in Lisle, IL, a state of emergency has been called. Cars are under water as well as homes destroyed. Am I watching some of the news coverage? You bet. This is my community. This is when and where I 100% need to know what is happening. This is the time for me to open up my heart and feel for others, to send healing thoughts, and to be a good citizen. I know that many bad things are happening in the world right now, but I can't absorb all of the bad. I can only concentrate on that right under my nose. For those of you that have a bigger heart than me and can absorb all that is happening in the world - hooray for you! I have learned my limits. I can only handle so much bad news and need to hear plenty of good.
I have not watched the "news" in over twenty years. Mostly for the same reasons you mention.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know I'm not alone.
DeleteI try to avoid the news as well anymore but like you say, it's impossible to do so. It's almost as if we're living in a 3rd world country with all of the shootings and bombings. Not the same place that I grew up in.
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy,
ReplyDeleteI thought I left a comment for you on this post but returned because I've had terrible problems with all the changes to Blogspot. Anyway I've moved again and set up a new blog with Wordpress.
Hope all is well and that the joints are behaving themselves. Mine seem to be improving with age. I will do a post about that soon.
Joanne x
Ignore that too I was logged into the wrong email account. I'm here, and if I'm not here I give up!!
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne,
DeleteGood to hear from you and I am glad your joints are doing well! Looking forward to your post.
I feel the same, Cathy. I struggle a lot with anxiety and find that the images of violence and suffering which are constantly replayed on the news really have an effect on me (and I am anxious enough without them!). I skim a couple of news sources in the morning, but once I have the basics I usually don't go further, and there are certain news outlets, which I find sensationalize negative stories, which I now avoid completely.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are finding your choice works for you. I have noticed a difference, too.