Ask Aunt B

Dear Aunt B,

What can I do about world problems? I get so stressed about everything I hear on the television and radio. I feel as if the world is in such a bad place and it really scares me.

World Peace Please

Dear World Peace Please,

Now is an important time to prioritize your thinking and your life. There are many factors affecting the state you are in. It seems that this is a generalized state for many people. The collectiveness of this feeling of overwhelm can make it all seem more traumatic. I will never claim to be an expert in world affairs. However, I do know what I can do things about and what I can’t. I know what I have control over and what I do not.

I see many people focusing on things they have no control and letting go of the many things they can control. So what are you doing to control the state of YOUR affairs?

Are you taking care of your own life? Are you taking care of your own health? Are you taking control of your own relationships? These are the areas you have control over. How you manage the control over these things affects how you see the world at large.

I am not telling you to ignore the happenings of the world. I am telling you to pay more attention to those things you have direct control over. I am also telling you to be more conscious of where you’re getting your information about the world’s happenings. You realize the news is not your best information, right? It is the news’ job to grab your attention. It is the news’ job to shock you so you keep watching. It is well known that nothing grabs our attention as well as negative material. Haven’t you ever wondered why the news spends little time reporting on all the good things happening in the world? Surely you do not believe that no good things happen in the world. Why don’t we hear more about those great things? One reason: they don’t sell newspapers and they don’t grab the attention seekers.

This is one of the reasons why I love the Forney Messenger. Have you noticed how positive our paper remains? I will always support this behavior because these are the things I wish to hear about. Tell me good stories. Tell me about winners in our community. Tell me happy stuff.

Thank you Forney Messenger for your commitment to spreading the good word. This may not be the way to get everyone turning in to see the horrendous things happening in the world, but it is the way to keep me and I sure hope all of you readers remember that good things happen every day.

Do you know that we actually live in one of the safest times in the history of mankind? Hard to believe but look at the statistics. Even with all that is going on, crime is actually down and we are safer that ever before. Don’t get me wrong, I hate violence. I am not trying to play down the effects it has on the victims of violence. I would love a world without violence and the damage it does to our hearts and souls. I am just reminding us to pick our battles, appreciate what we do have and work and spend time on things in our own control. Work against the natural tendency to see everything as horrible. Look around for the beauty the world has to offer and the people bringing that beauty. Celebrate all the victories that we achieve every day. Spend more time thinking about greatness and less time about horrifics. Many believe that focusing on the positive and the beauty of our world is putting our head in the sand. If so, take me to the beach.

Love, Aunt B

If you would like to send Aunt B a question please email your question to news@forneymessenger. com.