So, it’s been a big week for New Zealand. We had a tragic mass shooting in the city of
Christchurch, a city which has already suffered enough from the devastating
earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
I don’t want to ignore the mass shooting, and at the same time I don’t want to give airtime to the gunman and others of his type. For me, it feels better to send love and blessings privately, and continue with my focus of creating beauty through words which will uplift and inspire you, my reader.
I don’t want to be scared or cowed by thoughts of all the terrible things that can befall us, and that’s why I don’t watch the news. If something is big enough, they say you will hear about it, and I did, that’s for sure. You can’t escape something as monumental as this and rightly so.
I’m more talking about all the sensationalist items that masquerade as news these days. Positive Pollyannas are right when they call it ‘the Bad News’ because it is. If I could suggest one change that would benefit your life, it’s to stop watching the television news or reading it online, and to cancel your newspaper delivery.
Find other things to fill your mind with – a novel to entertain and bring humour to you; a non-fiction book which will inspire you to try something new; a soothing book of life meditations. My Kindle is filled to the brim (literally) with so much goodness, both fiction and non-fiction. And before my Kindle I always had half-a-dozen books by my bed to flip through along with my current novel.
I know from my father dying recently that life is fleeting, and it’s also for the living. We literally can be here one day and gone the next and it’s almost too big to contemplate a thought like that. I’m sure those who died in the tragedy ten days ago fully expected to be home that evening for dinner with their family.
All we can do is enjoy each day to the fullest and treat everyone we meet with love and respect. Recent events are a sombre reminder that we are alike underneath.
xx Fiona
I don’t want to ignore the mass shooting, and at the same time I don’t want to give airtime to the gunman and others of his type. For me, it feels better to send love and blessings privately, and continue with my focus of creating beauty through words which will uplift and inspire you, my reader.
I don’t want to be scared or cowed by thoughts of all the terrible things that can befall us, and that’s why I don’t watch the news. If something is big enough, they say you will hear about it, and I did, that’s for sure. You can’t escape something as monumental as this and rightly so.
I’m more talking about all the sensationalist items that masquerade as news these days. Positive Pollyannas are right when they call it ‘the Bad News’ because it is. If I could suggest one change that would benefit your life, it’s to stop watching the television news or reading it online, and to cancel your newspaper delivery.
Find other things to fill your mind with – a novel to entertain and bring humour to you; a non-fiction book which will inspire you to try something new; a soothing book of life meditations. My Kindle is filled to the brim (literally) with so much goodness, both fiction and non-fiction. And before my Kindle I always had half-a-dozen books by my bed to flip through along with my current novel.
I know from my father dying recently that life is fleeting, and it’s also for the living. We literally can be here one day and gone the next and it’s almost too big to contemplate a thought like that. I’m sure those who died in the tragedy ten days ago fully expected to be home that evening for dinner with their family.
All we can do is enjoy each day to the fullest and treat everyone we meet with love and respect. Recent events are a sombre reminder that we are alike underneath.
xx Fiona
We all are united with New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteIt is too bad that it took such an event for the rest of the world to see what an incredible leader you have in Jacinda Ardern. If only the rest of us would find our Jacinda Arderns, the world would be a better place.
In this era, it's more important than ever to be well-informed. That means getting news from diligent, thoughtful sources that are seeking the truth and not clicks. The traditional, respected outlets have high standards and try their best. I don't watch TV --most news is far too complex to distill into two-minute segments. I don't do Twitter. I prefer to spend the time to read a 4,000 or 10,000-word well-reported article.
As you say, life is fleeting. We have to make the most of it.
I'm so sorry something like this has hit New Zealand Fiona. In the U.S. this type of event has become so frequent that it isn't even that shocking anymore, it pains me to say it. When I see coverage of shootings I become almost physically ill. American media, it seems, has no qualms about showing horrific graphic images constantly, every day, repeatedly and all day long on every news show. As you mentioned, I try not to watch too much t.v. but since this is the U.S. and my daughter is in college and not near me, I feel I need to know what is happening as soon as it happens. Just a couple weeks ago my daughter texted me that there was a stabbing at her Uni, right across from her dorms. And this happened in one of the safest rated schools in the U.S. I do try to watch the news only once a day (or read it online) and that's it. I'm the type that "carries the weight of the world" on her shoulders even when I know there isn't much I can do to change things like this. Your Prime Minister is excellent, it only took her 72 hours to enact gun legislation. My country is sadly slow and embarrassing. Take care and again, I'm deeply sorry.
ReplyDeleteD.
I agree! I don't watch the news - ever. I think they thrive on telling the worst things and making people feel helpless and hopeless. Sadly there is sin in the world and no matter which weapons they choose, they will find a way to sow destruction. The best we can do is seek God and have pure hearts and spread his love wherever we go.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I never watch the news because my husband is addicted to it, but I agree that it can be overwhelming. I'm so sorry for the people involved in the tragedy, but your words are spot on. Life is precious. We have to make the most of it. Thank you for your reminder.
ReplyDeleteI never watch the news. I haven't heard about this shooting until now. I'm sorry something like this happened in your lovely country. I live in Mexico, unfortunately violence is very frequent in my country. That's why I decided to stop watching, otherwise I'll just stay at home and never go out.I love the inspiration on your blog and your quote about using our rose tinted glasses. That's what I do all the time. Many criticize me, they say I bury my head in the sand, but, like you also have said many times, my inner thoughts are all I can control. So I choose happy, pink, and chic.Thanks for all your lovely inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Fiona.
ReplyDeleteI thought of you as soon as I heard the tragic news. So sorry!
ReplyDeleteIf something is big enough, you will hear about it. That's how I found out about this tragedy, from hearing other people talking about it. I'm like you, Fiona, I don't read or watch the news. I'd rather focus on what's good. But I heard enough about this awful event to say a few prayers for those affected by it. So very sad, but at the same time so encouraging to see and hear so many people of good will who deplore these actions and take action for positive change.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, Fiona. I also wear my rose tinted glasses and read all manner of uplifting and life giving words rather than reading or watching "breaking news". I recently ordered your "30 Slim Days" and did the work. I just returned from 10 days in Cancun with my notebook containing all my all my lists and personal writings as well as my "Chic Manifesto" a la Fiona and am happy to report that my chic standards prevailed and sustained me in an "all inclusive" environment that could've easily done me in! I'm so grateful to now know that it's the small thoughts and behaviors that create chic, and that focusing on how I want to feel is the way to food and lifestyle freedom. We look the way we feel and we feel the way we think. I thank you so much! Muchos gracias. XO
ReplyDeleteSo true, Fiona. We are away in our van, crossing Australia, so very little internet service, TV etc. for the past 5 weeks and can I say, I don't miss it one iota. I heard of Notre Dame burning and felt so sad and today, something I read leads me to believe something horrific has occurred in Sri Lanka. I don't know the details and I don't want to. It's not that I don't care. I care very much but it distresses me enormously to read/hear about it. I bought myself a sparkly journal last week and have been making notes of gentleness, positivity and beauty. I am about to have a very hot shower in my sweet smelling bathroom, put on some perfume and enjoy a glass of wine - in our caravan. Very sad day for us today as we sent 18 year old, 3 legged Barney the cat to Rainbow Bridge yesterday evening. He has been our travel buddy since we bought the van last year. Won't be quite the same without him.
ReplyDeleteDiann, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Barney :( He sounds like an amazing boy - 18 and travelling! I know that pets leave a much bigger gap in our lives than their physical size <3
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