After my children grew up (way too quickly) and moved on to make the world a better place, I started a morning ritual of brewing a pot of coffee and reading the newspaper. Over the years, I’ve evolved so now I insert an instant pod of coffee into my coffeemaker and read online sources. That way I can get depressed so much faster.
Lately the news makes me feel mad, agitated, and helpless. Children are beheaded in the name of religion? Neighborhood stores are looted to avenge a shooting? The Ebola virus will kill us soon? And, another tragedy reported this morning: the Aspen trees are dying across the West.
Every now and then a positive story flutters across the news like a cookie crumb. I grab it and wish for the whole cookie. But that brings another item about health issues and how we’re all going to die of obesity, unless we get Ebola first or walk into a convenience store and get shot. I’m considering exchanging my morning coffee for a Bloody Mary. Or two.
So, I switched from the news to my favorite blogs. I knew my midlife friends could add some perspective and wit to brighten my mood, but I got immersed in the Mommy Bloggers. They’re funny and edgy, but sometimes I cringe at their victimhood, and I want to retort, “Buck up, Sisters, and cuddle that screaming toddler before he packs his bag and moves out.” I’d like to remind them that they will live longer without their children than with them. And soon those perky boobs will be swinging down at their bulging waist and their tight necks will resemble a dryer hose.
My daughter knows I’m addicted to the morning news, so she gently suggested I try a morning meditation. Though I grew up during the Age of Aquarius, I chose to avoid the hippie movement and selected the path of college degree and full-time job. That decision proved to be correct and enabled my children to have new clothes and orthodontic treatments. Being still to meditate seemed like new-age silliness, and everyone knows I can’t sit quietly. Oh look, there’s a squirrel!
But today, after becoming enraged at the photo taken by a proud father of his 7-year-old son holding a man’s severed head, I shut down the news feed and enrolled in a three-week meditation course led by Deepak Chopra and Oprah. I was skeptical at first, especially when told to be still and silently repeat a Sanskrit Mantra “Ananda Hum” – I am Bliss. I almost fell asleep, but then the mantra continued to whisper in my brain. I peeked open one eye to make sure no one was watching, then I returned to the mantra. After 15 minutes – a lifetime – I was totally relaxed. I even felt sad when a bell chimed and the mediation was over. Reality set in: It’s Monday. Time to do laundry.
I’ll admit that the meditation was lovely, and I intend to repeat it tomorrow on my patio sitting beneath the little bell I got years ago in Thailand. The bell has been hanging patiently on my arbor, waiting for me to appreciate its simple significance. My goal today is to fret less and seek happiness more. And, I intend to pray for peace and to buy some Aspen trees to plant.
I am so with you. I can barely stand to look at my newsfeed any more and I definitely can’t watch any of it on TV. The world has gone mad, and I think I should follow your example of meditating and planting new trees. Thank you for the inspiration.
Thank you for justifying my morning ritual. The morning blog reading, I mean. Not into the meditation just yet. Too squirmy.
I agree with you that the kid years are shorter than we realize. Even though mine are still here, I only hear from them when we’re out of cereal or they need money. Never thought I’d miss the early (freaking early) morning snuggle time or those nights when a little person crawled into bed with us and started kicking me in the face.
In some ways, the instant availability of information has changed us. We know too much too quickly. You might have the right idea — slow down personally. Take the time to meditate and breathe….I wish there was a way to focus more on what is right with the world than wrong with it but sadly some days we seem to be overwhelmed by the insanity going on around us.Going to take your daughter’s advice right now!
After years and years of being a news junkie–morning and again in the evening–I’m with you. The news is too discouraging and horrifying. Is it my age? I just can’t take it, especially since there’s nothing I can do about ISIS or Gaza or Ukraine or the Aspens [didn’t know about that one. I’m from the east.] My daughter, too, is into meditation. She wants to give me a gift of a ten-day retreat. The Oprah-Chopra connection sounds more do-able and would help get those awful news stories out of my head and off my active mind. Thanks for the post.
It’s sometimes the only way to get through a day. Given the news.
I feel exactly the same way about the news on my feed, my television, and in my social circles. We all have days that are lousy. We may even have a season that’s lousy. But, if a friend show up on my porch month in and month out with negativity and is unwilling to make any changes in yourself to improve their life, I’ll retreat to my own corner for some solitude, right after I’ve closed the door and deleted their contact info.
I’ve got very little room in my life for negativity.
I refuse to watch the news, it shakes me. I love those Oprah/Chopra meditations. Bite size. My new head clear is morning coffee with my dogs!
I have decided to keep my exposure to the news at a bare minimum these days, for a variety of reasons – not the least of which is my husband telling me it’s non-negotiable. I used to have CNN on all day long (often on mute, but still), but no more. The world is a terrifying place, and I don’t need to be reminded of it 24/7.
Let me know how that meditation series goes. I might have to try it out.
I hear you. I get the newspapers, and can barely read them. I do meditate though, and try to walk…and then try to tend my very small corner of the world.
I agree. I hate reading all about the sadness in this world. And one you said, really struck me. We live much longer without our kids at home (hopefully) than with them. I’ve been trying to move a little further away from daughter for years! But there is this magnet between us. I guess it’s called love.