There sure is a lot of talk about uncertainty these days. If finding the word “uncertainty” within a random array of news stories was a drinking game, we’d all be passed out by now. The hangover would bring more of the same as we watch the world seemingly come undone and fall deeper into chaos.
From multiple military conflicts at center stage, all mixed in with talks of economic doom and even further division here at home, it’s as if good news has become the taboo. That’s a bit too forgiving… Good news has become the taboo. Not only are you hard pressed to find those feel good stories out there, but there is undeniable data that proves people aren’t reading them anyway. They scroll right past the happy endings yet salivate over the latest dumpster fire. As someone who is old enough to remember life before the twenty-four hour media cycle came to be, I still have trouble comprehending what has become of the “free” press. If sarcasm were layers of clothing, my mention of a “free” press would look like a Texan when the temperature drops below 50 degrees. For the complete lack of a better word, and in true country boy form, what we’ve got here is a certified, genuine sh*tshow. Yes, I know that’s not a word, and I apologize for the language, but sometimes the boot just fits.
Depressed yet? Well don’t be, because I’ve got a secret to share with you.
You don’t have to participate.
That’s right. You can drop out and join the cool kids who choose a much more positive existence over one riddled with fear and uncertainty. Don’t believe me? Well, I’m living proof. Earlier, when I spoke about those who scroll past the good and go right for the bad, I used the third person point of view. Typically, I include myself in the guilty parties. Remember, I write these for me just as much as I write them for you. However, in this case, I excluded myself from the table as I decided quite some time ago to drop out of the endless cycle of doom and drudgery. The results have been nothing short of life-altering and I am here to tell you all that it is much easier than you think.
It’s a two part strategy that is simple as can be to follow.
Step one: Stop watching and reading the news.
Step two: STOP WATCHING AND READING THE NEWS.
There you have it, it’s that easy!
Seriously, just stop. I promise you that the world will keep turning. The sun will still rise in the east and set in the west, and the clocks will tick and tock as they always have. When I decided to do this, I had my doubts as to how long I’d last before coming back for more but it was so freeing that I quickly found myself baffled at why I had let the news consume so much of my days for so long. I listened to news radio on my way to and from work, I’d read it during my lunch breaks, and I’d even check in throughout each evening to see who or what had ridden off the rails and now basked in that five minute limelight before the media moved on to its next victim.
I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I played along in such a stupid game for so long. Think about it… How gullible are we? It’s like we’re lab rats, navigating the maze of information and going for the cheese every single time. The dopamine IV drips constantly into our veins as we click away.
Please let me assure you of two things. One, when I talk of my participation in such a “stupid” game, I am not questioning anyone’s intelligence, including my own. Two, I fully understand the value of being up to date on current events, and I’m not here to persuade you otherwise. Regarding each of these two statements, I simply see multiple entities that control the narrative and I think that they should be held at arm’s length.
I want to see you control your own narrative. You make the call on how you feel about something. I still remember the days when the evening news simply reported what was going on in the world. People weren’t interested in then sitting for minutes or hours on end as a panel of so-called “experts” went back and forth on their opinions regarding the particular event. Nowadays, it’s all you see. Frankly, I could care less about an outside perspective that is formed with the primary intention of filling time and keeping you engaged. I can’t count the hours that I’ll never get back as I wasted them on watching these people tell myself and others how to think and feel about something that shouldn’t even be a major concern in the first place. As a result, we now have a society full of “experts” on things that they actually know very little about. They are simply regurgitating the ramblings of others. It’s a crystal clear case of the blind leading the blind. Trust me, I was one of them. I thought I was truly tapped in to the deep inner workings of all major world events and geographical areas yet I wasn’t even scratching the surface.
What do I do differently now? How do I control my own narrative? How do I stay informed?
It’s quite simple, actually, and it has taken something that used to promote fear and darkness within me and turned it into something much more positive. It’s turned it into opportunity.
I still check in on the world’s current events. After all, I’m not here to suggest that you completely separate yourself from current events. Before you know it, you’ll be that person who’s sending faxes and looking for the nearest payphone. Don’t be that person ;). These days, I’ll typically allow myself five or ten minutes each day to scan through the headlines and read the occasional news story. I mostly stick to the facts of what is happening or has already happened, and I stop short of continuing through the “filler” as I call it. That’s where the opinions come in and where I step out. If something intrigues me, and I wish to learn more about it, I opt to do my own research, whether it be through historical research or other, more reliable means. Even then, I rarely venture into deep waters. In my mind, there’s no reason to have an incredibly vast knowledge of things that have little to no resonance in my life and well being.
The opportunity that I mentioned presents itself by way of how I spend the time that was once dedicated to consuming “information”. Sometimes, it’s the opportunity to get outside and take a walk through the woods. It’s the opportunity to spend time with the family, work on a project, or attend a community event. Whatever it may be, it’s an opportunity to do something that brings light into your life.
As for the news, you won’t miss it. The world will still do as the world does. Countries will still disagree with one another and will sometimes let those disagreements lead them to war. It’s an unfortunate side of humanity, but it is something that will most likely happen until the end of time. People will still be at odds with each other when it comes to politics and personal beliefs, fire will still scorch the earth from time to time, and our actions as a people will still present challenges as we strive to exist in unison with mother nature rather than in defiance of her. Darkness will reside over certain areas and events as it tries to root and spread, but it won’t succeed.
No matter how dark the world can seem to be at times, light still reigns supreme as it is the tireless warrior that will conquer darkness at every encounter.
That light will come in many forms. Warring nations will sign peace accords and establish cooperative steps forward in diplomacy. People will find common ground as they set their differences aside and serve the greater purpose as one. Fires will be extinguished and new life will flourish as a result and new initiatives to clean up our oceans and landscapes will be embarked upon, providing hope for us and future generations.
This all may sound like wishful thinking or, as my old man would have put it, “blue sky dreaming”. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I’m the eternal optimist, but I don’t need to dream of better news… it’s happening all around us, each and every day. Good news indeed still exists. Although it may be harder to find, it’s out there. Stories such as The Ocean Cleanup and The Farmer’s Footprint are just two examples out of countless others that are sending clear messages of hope and transformation throughout the world. As my time away from the doom and gloom news cycle grows, the more I find of the positive and uplifting events that are changing the world we live in, right before our very eyes. It’s also been my experience that people aren’t as divided as they may seem. Make no mistake, division is still a dangerous reality, especially in America today, but I encourage you to get out and involved with your local community. Meet new people, experience different cultures and traditions, and gain a new perspective into matters that have been portrayed as divisive in nature or as a threat to certain ways of life. You don’t need to travel the world to do this. We are a diverse nation and vast differences exist in almost every American household. The more I seek these situations, the more positivity I find. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re all in this together and I am finding that the vast majority of people feel the same, no matter their differences. I’ll say the same for the world. As dark and cruel as it can seem at times, I find that people are generally good and want peace and prosperity for themselves and their neighbors. It’s this inherent human condition that will ensure that good will always triumph over evil. Remember, darkness cannot exist in light, and we must remain the beacons of light, guiding the lost ships ashore.
A treasured friend of mine recently sent me the poem ‘Desiderata’, by Max Ehrmann. Written in 1927, these words pierced my very core, and I now read them multiple times a day. Below is an excerpt…
“With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.”
If you take anything from this message today, take his words. As complicated as we all make life out to be, it really is this simple at its core.
Go experience the world for yourself, not through the interpretation of others. Experience the good that this world offers. The balance and peace of nature, the overwhelming power of community, and the fundamental ideals that bind us as a people and spark unity and innovation; they all await your discovery. As a farm offers a bountiful harvest when attended to, so do the people of the world.
As I navigate these new opportunities, I get the feeling that more and more people are opting out of darkness in information and choosing to participate in a much friendlier game. Let’s team up and put the power back in our own hands as we redefine our own narratives.