I might get a lot of hate for saying this but I think the brave thing to do is admit how I feel. Because ultimately this is my safe space and my corner of the Internet where I can write without filters and share without fear of judgement. I need to admit that I strongly dislike the news and avoid it like the plague.
It feels shameful to admit this. Can a little ole Substack writer like me get cancelled for saying this? How could I not care about what’s going on in the world around me? How ignorant of me! The thing is - I’d take a bet that I won’t be the only one reading this who feels the same way.
This content is free to read but if you would like to support my writing then here’s a link to pay for some creative juice (tea, coffee, hot chocolate)
Let’s be really clear here: what is currently going on in the world, particularly in the UK, right now is quite frankly unbelievable. It feels otherworldly. Do we really live in a world where it’s become the norm to receive ‘stay at home for your safety’ orders from your workplace (this has been the case for me this week)? Has it really become the norm to hear of yet another riot and become almost used to it?
We are living in turbulent and deeply unsettling times. It would be quite natural to feel like we’re drowning in fear at the state of the world. Yet, I think the most dangerous thing to do is let fear become our new normal. Be aware of what’s happening, yes - ignorance is just as dangerous - but fear breeds fear. The best thing we can do is overcome fear with love. Let’s go against the new normal and let’s see what difference a ripple of love makes.
So, why do I strongly dislike the news? Because the media likes the drama of the negative. The news that we see on TV or read online trains us to filter out the good in the world and see only what is bad. While it might feel at the moment that there are a lot of bad things happening - I’m certainly not arguing against that notion - I do believe that the world is not all bad. There are plenty of reasons to celebrate the world we live in - we just have to actively choose to seek out the good (even if sometimes we have to look a bit - or a lot - harder).
With that in mind, I’ve collected three news stories - that the mainstream media have failed to focus on - that are uplifting, inspiring and remind us that there is reason to be hopeful. Honestly? Google did not want me to find these stories. Search ‘good news stories’ or any other similar phrase and you’ll see that you have to do a lot of scrolling to get to the good and relevant stuff. Doesn’t that prove the negative bias that our media has? Here are some that I’ve found in my digging to save you an in-depth search.
Surprise flower bouquets help beat loneliness Reported by the BBC on 21st July 2024, members of the Nateby and Wharton Women's Institute left appropriately 30 bouquets in outdoor spaces in a bid to combat loneliness. This is not the first time that I’ve seen this random act of kindness in action. It seems to be catching on: leaving flowers in public for unexpected recipients. Perhaps next time you pop into your supermarket of choice, you might like to pick up a small bouquet and leave them somewhere with a handwritten note of encouragement? Just think - what an impact your surprise bouquet might have. This is certainly a challenge for me too!
Kindness campaigner, Alison Bond, writes and sends 4,000 letters and cards Alison Bond is on a mission to make the world a better place by sending out handwritten letters and cards to spread God’s love. This has become so much a part of her ministry that she’s started the Kindness through Letters Mission as an ongoing project.
We live in a world where it’s so easy to ping a message to someone online. And while there is nothing inherently wrong with that, there is something very powerful about receiving a handwritten note from someone. In fact, I have a good friend who I predominantly communicate with through written letters - how old-fashioned! It certainly teaches us to slow down. We don’t need to know the absolutely fine detail of our lives in an instant and in an online highlight reel. Delayed and thoughtful communication is extremely powerful. Could you find a few minutes in your week to send a handwritten note to someone? You never know - it might just catch on.
How God struck gold in Paris I said it wouldn’t happen but it’s happened: I’ve become fully addicted to the Paris Olympics. It’s such a tonic to the chaos. There’s something beautiful about seeing such a diverse array of humans come together. They might be competing against each other but it warms my heart when I see them cheer each other on or celebrate the successes of the opposition. Can we bring that Olympian camaraderie into the relationships around us?
What is also refreshing to see is athletes speaking so openly about their faith. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve said to Mum: ‘Look! They’re praying!’ or found an interview clip of an Olympian talking about their religious belief. Is having a faith becoming trendy again? Is it finally okay to admit that we have a faith? It makes my soul happy seeing people comfortable to display their beliefs so openly on such a public platform. Long may this openness continue.
Somehow as I’ve been writing this article, it’s turned into a guide as well. Here’s a news story and here’s something you can do. Perhaps that is not a bad way to digest news - the good news that is. Seeking out the news that showcases the goodness of people and learning from them. I suppose if we were to consider the bad news even for a moment, we can learn from the bad news too and what simply cannot or will not resonate with us and how we choose to live our lives. I think this viral illustrated quote sums up my point maybe better than my series of ramblings can.
See the bad. See the fear. And dare to be different. Dare to love instead.
Questions to ponder
Be honest with yourself - how is the news currently making you feel? Is there a way to be aware of what’s going on while being kind to yourself and your mind?
How can you ensure that you also access the Good News that is out there?
What small actions can you take this week to create a ripple of love?
I remember getting those "stay at home for your own safety" orders during the riots after George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis. It's a very other-worldly type scared feeling, like entering a real-life horror film. As a USA midwest resident, I have been keeping in closer tabs with my UK friends as I hear about the new across the pond. my heart is with you.
That said, I'm so happy you are shouting the LOVE LOUDER than the hate.
and what does it say that when I read about the flowers for loneliness being left in public places, my thought was..."anytime I see flowers left in public places I wonder 'who died there?'" That is a sad state of world that needs to shift.
all that said, I totally believe that nature ALWAYS seeks balance. In all ways of nature, for as far as the pendulum swings one way, it eventually swings the other way. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. for every darkness, there is always a dawn...and the degree of dawn matches the degree of darkness. I believe with any shadow of doubt that for all the doom and gloom we are experiencing in the world right now, there is an equal and opposite amount of sparkle and shine on the horizon. For that, I choose to be excited!
Thank you for sharing! Because you wrote this you shared and spread some great news! 😇