I imagine most people are familiar with at least this part of the serenity prayer:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
I’ve been thinking about this lately as it pertains to living in the current economic, political, and cultural climate. There are a whole lot of things I cannot change. I’m not even going to recite them all because it is just too overwhelmingly depressing if you think about it too often and too long.
Today I chose to change the things I could. I’m taking a break from news and websites/blogs that focus on the news. I deleted a whole slew of articles I was going to put in future link-o-ramas. I changed my start-up tabs in Firefox, removing several sites that I’m going to ignore for a while.
Face it. Things are bad and are going to get worse before they get better. I can’t do anything about it at this point so why keep reading about it? I no longer think I have to convince people that hard times are coming like I did a few years ago. And chances are this is going to drag on for years before we see any significant improvement.
So I’m just kinda walking away from all of it for a bit. If something major happens, someone send me an email and let me know, OK?
In the meantime I’ll be concentrating on the things I can impact. Things like organizing my crafts, making banana bread, and being a good wife and mother. Doing good work for my clients, sweeping floors, and reading to Caroline. Hanging out with my husband, reading good books, and praying.
Choosing each day to walk in wisdom and peace.
Good plan!
I have heard from wise sources lately that it is not as bad as it seems. That it was worse in 1981-82. I hope they’re right, but if they aren’t, I can’t do anything about it anyway. I couldn’t back in the early 80’s. Funny, hubs and I were reminiscing about how THRILLED we were to be able to get a loan with 10.25% interest on our first home in 1985! lol Things could be worse.
Rest, dear Sallie.
I’ve come to the same conclusion. Sometimes you just need a break from it all. 😉
I did this a few months ago. My home page used to be FoxNews but now it’s Revive Our Hearts. I used to listen to talk radio on the way to pick up my daughter from co-op but I’ve been listening to Scripture CD’s. It’s only two days a week but it’s made a big difference. I used to have to get my nightly fix of the news but now I figure if something major happens, someone is bound to let me know! The Lord’s in control and I can rest in Him no matter what happens!
I can relate…until the election I posted about politics on my blog pretty much daily, sometimes multiple times per day. I just can’t deal with it now. I did a political post today, but they have been relatively rare in recent weeks. Nor am I keeping up with reading political blogs and watching political shows to the extent I normally do.
I do continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh as my way of getting the most important news and analysis, and then many days after that’s off I mentally just move on from politics. I’d rather focus on my family, cooking, good books, and old movies. 🙂 And, as you say, praying!
Best wishes,
Laura
Amen Sallie! Given our unemployment issues, I have purposefully avoided the network news and network type radio programs. Listening to the doom and gloom does nothing but provoke fear and tempt me to believe the news media instead of leaning on, and trusting in, my God. As Sallie mentioned, it is wiser to focus on your home, family and what you can do. Keeping your head up and moving forward is the best we can all do right now.
Good for you! I chose to do this 3 years ago. With all that’s going on in our life, adding to it with the world’s stress was just too much.
I was a news junkie and truly enjoyed being informed and I missed it at first. However, the peace that came from not being focused on the world’s woes is amazing!
I still listen to a Christian news program but that’s it.
Yes, for sure this is the way to go.
I’ve really tuned out of all news coverage since the election was over. I was way too into it back then, so I’ve gone a 180.
And yes, the gloom and doom isn’t healthy. Thinking back to your post about the internet, this is probably the first financial crisis of this size where we do have 24 hour news bleeting at us from all angles, via the TV, internet, etc. So even during other crises that our nation has dealt with, people weren’t watching such extensive coverage on it. They were too busy trying to live and to survive. Even back in the early 80s, people probably only watched the six o’clock news at night and maybe the daily or Sunday paper.
You are correct—we need a “fast” from media from time to time and right now is probably a good time. Just don’t let your head be stuck in the sand for too long. Doing so is exactly what has gotten us into this mess in the first place; people sticking their heads and tails in the sand while people around them, governments around them, and so on spent, spent, spent into an oblivion and we are now reaping the consequences of our inaction and apathy, I daresay.
So take a break, but don’t forget to be an advocate. Nobody cares about you and your family like yourself, you know?
And while you’re at it, check out ancientfaithradio.com.
Twenty-four/seven streaming Byzantine chant and scripture readings. It is the most soothing thing I have ever listened to in my life.
Great plan! God bless you as you live for Him.
Sallie, I woke up this morning with that “outraged feeling” that is anything but peaceful. It was dogging me, so I gave some time over thinking, “What is my problem exactly?”
And I was convicted that I had not been pursuing PEACE. That peace that only Jesus gives us.
You’re not alone in this obviously.
Good idea, Sallie. Just in time for Lent.
I will miss those cautionary links, however. Your wide reaching reading saves me so much time. I guess you’re the “Reader’s Digest” of wise web women world wide! =)