Today I shut off cable news
I got up, got my coffee and sat out on the deck instead. I watched robins and mockingbirds flit among the trees in my yard. I watched squirrels scampering up and down trunks and across the grass. I gave my dog a long-overdue brushing for which I was rewarded with tail waggings and puppy kisses.
I felt peaceful.
I got on my gloves and went to pull weeds, clear dead plants, rake and mow. The sun was on my back, my hands were in the earth and a breeze cooled my face. Around me birds chirped and twittered.
I felt at one with the Spirit I believe in.
When I was done, I grabbed a glass of ice water, went back out, sat on the deck and surveyed the results. I felt the satisfaction of creating beauty & order out of chaos. I greeted my neighbor who came over and had a cup of coffee during which we talked about nothing and everything.
I felt connected - to humanity. Not the angry internet humanity or the babbling pundit humanity. The real humanity — people who enjoyed their children & grandchildren, who could marvel at the beauty of a summer day & who weren't anxious or angry. People who may have held different views from mine but who didn’t care because we looked at each other in the face and saw the goodness there.
I ate lunch and for a half hour caught the network news. I got the factual reporting of current events.
I said a prayer for the people terrorized in the Middle East by evil.
It took a concerted effort, but I forced myself not to switch to cable news. Why? Because I realized I would learn no new facts. Instead I would be pummeled by various pundits with endless speculation, what-ifs, what-could bes. I would hear (either live or reported) fear-inspiring rhetoric; hateful sentiments. Repeated. Over and Over and Over. Chewed on and then repeated again.
And yet how addicting. Night after night, show after show, running through the whole gamut of emotions — disgust, anger, derision, depression, the “yeah right” when I agreed with one of the pundits, the name calling when I didn’t. Emotions churned by people who are paid to capture my interest, keep me tuning in. Total strangers, really, to whom I have granted the magical power of getting into my psyche — making me fearful or anxious or angry or hateful.
Instead, I watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I felt happy & hopeful. Instead after some afternoon TV watching I went to the gym for a good, brisk, climate-controlled walk. Instead of the on-board CNN broadcast, I brought my I-POD. I listened to the “upbeat” list — some songs rare, others fairly popular.
I felt alive. As I looked out the gym window and wandered home I wondered how many lovely days like this were left this summer. Just the right temperature.
I wondered how many I missed too. I became aware of how much more time I was wasting — time I’d never get back — sitting in front of the TV or computer being anxious, fearful & angry. Being hateful or rude.
I liked today’s feelings. I want to hold onto them. I want to feel hopeful. I want to believe that this world is full of warm sun, cool breezes and friendly, good-humored, tolerant, kind neighbors.
I want to feel connected to the human reality. So I wrote this to share. And now? Me and Mr. Sid (the dog) are gonna go play fetch. After dinner, it’s coffee and The Quiet Man.
I think I’m gonna keep the cable news shut off.
I think I’ll start living again.