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Meet Me Where I Am's avatar

Around May, 2020, I stopped watching or listening to the news. If anyone turned it on, I left the room or turned off the radio. As a result, I experienced a palpable sense of relief. I had no idea how news media affected my mental well being. It's been over 5 years and I still don't *watch* the news like I did before. It used to be a nightly routine to turn it on at 10 pm.

Since that time, I am becoming apolitical. I just can't play that game anymore either. I still see plenty of news bytes on various social media platforms and usually mute anyone whose accounts are blatantly political.

I am a "glass half full" kind of girl. Call me Pollyanna if you will. My life is better for it.

*If I close my laptop, I won't be able to finish my novel...or reply to you, Dave. ;)

Thanks for always being an optimist!

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Dave Williams's avatar

Bless you, Julie. That is exactly what happened to me. Retired from radio news two years ago and stopped consuming news from any source. Completely stopped. Within days I was happier and noticing all the wonders of life and the world around me that I had been too busy and too stressed to appreciate. Coincidentally--the piece I've scheduled to drop tomorrow, Saturday the 20th, is very much about that.

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Meet Me Where I Am's avatar

Thank you, Dave. At the end of the day, it’s all about choices. Ask yourselves - what brings my shoulders away from my ears? Then, do it.

I’ll be looking for your next piece!

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Graciewilde's avatar

You nailed it, Dave. I got in that very bad place of being overwhelmed by all the bad news. It was affecting everything about my days. I got mad and basically turned off ALL the things. And then I went to the beach.

I am turning things on a bit now but ONLY the things I want to see/read. Life is too noisy right now. I have the power to make it quieter. Thanks for your post.

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Luann Madison's avatar

Thank you Dave. I so very sorely needed this.

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Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

Nice. 😊

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Julie Dee's avatar

Thanks Dave. So often I feel made to feel stupid when I feel optimistic, like because I’m older I should know better. I feel a post coming on myself here😂😂

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