As much as I have been consumed with the news, politics, who is accusing whom these days, Trumps latest inane tweets, I have discovered that all this anxiety provoking information has done just that – made me anxious, irritated, angry and judgmental, no matter how much mindful meditation I do. It has also done the same thing for everyone I meet or read on Facebook.
So, in order to maintain a sense of sanity and calm, I am limiting my exposure to the news. No more Rachel or MSNBC, no more Sunday morning reporters and Congress people telling me how to think; Facebook on occasion, not hourly, occasional nightly news but not nightly. I might even decide to abstain from Facebook as well.
I know that, somehow, I will be able to get whatever news I need to get whenever. Everything is repeated more than a 100 times daily, so I’m sure I won’t miss anything. I am a strong believer in a well informed electorate and that we must know what is going on in order to keep our country free and strong and respected around the world.
But, it has all gotten so out of hand. With the 24/7 news cycle, and everyone posting, everything and anything has become news There seems to be no significant difference between the importance of a missile launch by North Korea and the latest egg free scrambled eggs that taste like eggs; the devastating tax reform bills and the Kardashian’s latest shoe collection. Everything has equal weight. Too much information and too little substance.
Oh and everything is Breaking News – “Fly splats on windshield – Breaking News”.
And though it is not yet New Year’s, I resolve to watch less and less news, less posts and enjoy more Netflix, even though Poldark is off air for now. I will be reading more – fiction – meditating more and, hopefully, even staying off the cell phone more.
After 30 days, I shall report on how my inner and outer emotions have been affected by my own News Break. If you wish to join me on this endeavor, I would enjoy hearing about your experience.
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