Tuesday, April 16, 2013

N.....is for News

The old saying....."no news is good news" is really right on. When my daughter had her accident which resulted in a closed head injury, her doctor forbid her to watch or read any news because most news is so upsetting. She cancelled the newspaper and would turn off the news on TV but it still would seep in through radio or word of mouth. She's learned, over the years, to just block it out.

However.....when you do something like that you really are "out of the loop". Especially if you're still working.  I don't get the newspaper any longer, preferring to get my news online. That way I can sort of pick and choose what I want to read about. But Breaking News items get to you anyway.

It just seems like almost all the news now is not good news at all. Most of it just tears at you because you're helpless to do anything about it. So many situations are happening now that are way beyond our control.

My income situation had not changed from 2011 to 2012, yet I got 50% less of a federal refund and had to pay on my state taxes. This tells me that a lot of things changed that were beyond my power and that makes me angry. It makes me twice as angry because I am a senior citizen on a fixed income. Yes, I work a couple days a week but that position is not etched in stone; it could end at any time. Plus that, the pay is not that great so the few hours I put in doesn't reap me a lot of help.....but it does help a little and that's all I ever wanted. Now....it's getting to the point where I need a lot more than that and there are a lot of seniors in the same boat. Who am I kidding....there are a lot of people other than seniors in that same boat.

In closing, I'm not a big fan of the news but we do need to be kept informed, so it's a double edged sword. My head is still reeling about what happened in Boston and all you can do is just sit and ask....Why?.....the same question we asked not that long ago in reference to Sandy Hook.





5 comments:

Silvia Writes said...

So true about the news, being upsetting. I turned the TV on this morning and had to switch it right off after five minutes ... really couldn't take the images from Boston anymore ... yet we have to stay informed.

Why, indeed ...

Silvia @ Silvia Writes

Kate @ Another Clean Slate said...

Stopping by from the A-Z Challenge.

I would love to be oblivious to the news, but unfortunately we can't. If only...

Peruby said...

I realized this morning after reading my roll of blogs that it is a blessing I cancelled my cable TV over a year ago. I forgot about all the news flashing across the screen and scrolling along the bottom.

Much less stress about this. We do not need to be reminded every single minute about this tragedy.

Lucy said...

I agree you should stay informed but I am careful not dwell. I watched very little so-called News of what happened yesterday or even with Sandy Hook. The U.S. Media has a way of sensationalizing all events. I listen for facts and try to read the information,otherwise the 'News' tends to get bogged down in sob stories that just seep into the psyche and that does no one any good. There really is a difference between being informed and then wallowing in tragedy.
Lucy from Lucy's Reality

Josie Two Shoes said...

I honestly don't read or listen to as much news as I used to. Obviously when something big happens I tune in to check it out, but to see it replayed over and over and over is mind-numbing and heart-breaking. Let's face it, there is a lot of evil in this world. But we need to stay aware that, despite our media's reporting, there is also so much good. If only news reports were required to show balance! Covering our heads won't make the bad go away, but letting our light shine out into the world can bring more good to overcome it! Good, thoughtful post, Val!