Is all that local to you?

I tend to avoid a lot of the awful things in the news, which is most of it.

Sue

I know how you feel. I don't watch the local news and try not to read sad articles in the newspaper. It's really hard to hear about all the terrible news.
Donna

I work in social services, where the people I work with have had far worse lives than most people. I definitely ALWAYS see my glass as half full and and feel really lucky to have the life I do, even with the bad times I've had.

I will only allow myself to feel sorry for myself for a day or two when something bad happens or I'm feeling down. Then I concentrate on everything I have instead of don't have.

By knowing that I am not the One in charge.

...and my glass is always full, just not always full of the same thing. Even if there is no water in my glass, it is full of air. May not make sense to some, but I belong to the "my cup runneth over" club.

anette

Yeah, that's local news. I try to avoid it too, but it's unavoidable. Especially the Groene story. I know the public defender representing Duncan (I cannot even *imagine* the evidence he and his staff had to go through to prepare for trial. I can't even stomach reviewing photos and medical reports for battery victims) and it's all anyone is talking about up here now.

I try not to worry about the whole world. I live in Mayberry and that is why. Very little drama. Very little violence.

I can't believe I'm going to tell you this. I haven't told anyone else. It may sound cheesy as heck, but it gets me through.
When I wake up every morning the first thing I do is thank the big guy for letting we wake up and then the next thing, I think to myself today could be the day that something really great happens, I mean something so wonderful, over the top fantastic. I give that a couple of minutes to sink in, and even though I have been doing this for years, I still get a feeling of anticipation. Like waiting for Christmas. I start every day with this feeling of anticipation. You would think that after doing this for 10 years and in all that time probably only 10 super fantastic things have happened that it wouldn't work, but it still does.
Next-when I pull in my parking spot at work, I wrap my hand around my prayer box necklace that hangs from my rearview mirror, look towards heaven and say okay, it's me and you again today, if you can hang in there so can I. And we do.
I have very little in the way of material things, but I have an abundance of love, hugs, and happy times shared with family and friends. I refused to be depressed, especially since I have so much that makes me happy.

Curlysue,if only 1/2 the world would do as you do,think what a happy world it would be.

I also am very grateful for every day that is given to me and try to make the most of them.
Kathi

I just live by this:

"God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that can be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other"

curlysue, that's awesome!

And how would we pray if we were living in some parts of Africa, where hundreds of thousands have been killed, sometimes hundreds in a church?

Or made refugees, kicked out of their country by militias, including those child soldiers, a number of whom had been forced to kill members of their own families? Because some other people, the ones with the guns, wanted the oil ... or the diamonds ("blood" diamonds, they call them)... or other resources.

Where in some countries about 20% of the population have AIDS ... with kids of 12 trying to look after their younger brothers and sisters.

And when we were challenged to go to Rwanda - they said that about 5,000 soldiers would have done the trick, keeping something like 800,000 from being killed ...

... did we go?

We weren't going to touch that with a 20 foot pole.

It seems to me that God cries when s/he sees the terrible things that these humans do to one another.

ole joyful (most of the time)

culysue,
I love what you said. I'm going to do the same from now on.
Donna

I feel that I lead a charmed life. So many bad things are happening to family members and others; things going on in my life seem minor.

Thanks for sharing your personal thoughts with us Curlysue.
What true words of inspiration!

Lori

Even with things as bad as they are in this world, there are still good things going on. It seems the media concentrates on broadcasting all the bad things instead of good. For some reason, the bad sells. I would love to hear at least one good thing on the news each night... something uplifting.
I just wrote several paragraphs on this topic of the decline of morals and values, but decided that I'd better leave it alone here. Also, what goes on in other countries is another story.
All I will say here is that too many of us, me included, better stop sitting back and allowing a small minority of people making the rules (that most of us don't agree with) that contribute to the decline of moral and ethical values. Read between the lines.
I'm truly fearful for the lives that my grandchildren will have to live in the future. I'm just hoping that while I'm around, I can help instill. the values that they need to live good and honest lives.
Just realized, I really didn't answer the question.... I try to focus on the good and not the bad. Also, anytime anything bad happens to me, I search for good things that occured because of the bad. Most of the time you can find good things from bad if you think that way.
Lu

That's a good point Lulie.
Unfortunately the good news rarely make the headline.

I too try to focus on what's good in my life rather than the bad and it's not easy some days.

I have also learned to stay away from negative people. Some, I think enjoy feeling bad and it's like they expect others to feel as rotten as they do. I work with a very negative woman. There is nothing good with her life and her days are filled with complaints and self pity. I find myself trying to cheer her up, which makes her mad to ignoring her, which makes her mad, to being cheerful and upbeat, which, you guessed it. Makes her mad. I can't make her life better, even if it were my job. I've known her for 25 years and she's always been this way. I think it's a habit.

There's always medication too if finding a bright spot in your life is too hard.

I'm with you Donna. I like winter. For on thing, without snow and cold there would be no water next summer to drink and flush with. Now THERE'S a thought to bring ya down!
LOL

Lori

Attitude is a choice. You can wake up and choose to be happy like curlysue.....or you can choose to take a bleak outlook at the world and wallow in self pity. I for one wake up every morning and Thank Him for just being in my right mind, and having air to breathe.

I not only want my cup full...but running over so someone else can drink from my saucer!!
Marla

I agree so much with Marla. The mind is a powerful thing. You can choose how you want to feel.
Lu

Sure there's a lot of nasty ugly stuff going on in the world. But you never read or hear about the people who mind their own business, raise their children , work hard at their jobs, go to church,etc. When I'm feeling down, I go to church and see people like myself. I joined two church groups. I'm taking a class in the New Testament. I am convinced there is a lot more good than evil in the world.

I try to remember that it is not only negative things that happen in the world, but rather the reports only LOOK for negative things because for some reason people find those more interesting. What makes a better headline? "A whole class of little kids is doing well and learning math and respecting their parents every day" or "Kids are more violent after playing video games".

"Huge fire in small village claims lives of entire parish" or "A handful of aid workers passed out water and food to hundreds of starving people, and do this every single day".

We have to remember that there is a whole world of stuff going on beyond what is being reported in the newspapers and tv. And yes, there are bad people in the world but there are good people too. And the good outweigh the bad. I know that for sure because of there were more murderous bad people than good people there would be none of us good people left - we would have ALL been murdered by now.

Many times, I write about situations in my life in an extrapolated and humerous way. That is my way of dealing with it - I use it as a creative outlet. Even I find that it is easier to do this with negative things than positive things. Some people hate my blog and have bad feelings towards me because I am always so down and negative. My answer to that is "obviously you don't get the point. If I can make even one person laugh, then it makes my situation seem like nothing. And THAT is my point".

Now go snuggle Conway.

Dances -- I LOVE - L O V E L O V E your blog... mostly because I know it's a true but skewed view of your life! But your spin and your discriptive powers are marvelous and make me howl with laughter!
Just remember that when someone doesn't like it & lets you know -- you do have a bunch of bike riding '-hores' who do love ya!!! not to mention your Ruuuuubbby dog who doesn't get enough photo play ....

Here's how you can look at the glass is half full.

1) all those bad things didn't happened to you nor someone close that you know of.
2) your legs, hands are still functioning, right? Pick up that remote control and either change the channel and stop watching the news or turn that darn thing off!
3) your eyes are still in good condition, right? Sit at one of your windows and look at the beautiful site in front of you.

Trust me, the news broadcast news that are out of the ordinary. Don't you agree? That means that besides those people that are mentioned on the news, the rest of the millions around the world are fine and disasters are not chasing them. Don't you agree?

So, that's how you do it in your case. Be at peace by chosing to watch peaceful things. You are what you feed into your mind. Stay away from bad news that tends to cause your depression. Find some sitcom or something funny to watch or read. Entertain your mind and your mind will entertain you for the rest of the day.

Curlysue...that is awesome and inspiring! Thank you!

Like Jennmonkey, I feel blessed and I am happy with what I have. Horrible stories do bring me down and sometimes make me cry, and I am shocked by the cruelty in this world, but I have to get over it and get on with life.

I just keep my glass full of wine :)