November 6, 2024 ~ Why I'm Going News-Free (At Least for Now)

Today, I had a bit of a wake-up call. As I opened my phone, there it was—the news. I’m sure you all know what news I'm talking about. It’s the kind of news that hooks you in, pulls you down the rabbit hole of doom-scrolling, and doesn’t let go. But just as I felt myself starting to sink, I made a decision: enough is enough. For my health and for my own peace of mind, I’m creating a news-free zone.

So, here's what I did before getting out of bed this morning: I deleted every news app, social media feed, and streaming service that could possibly push news my way. Yep, that includes Facebook, Threads, YouTube—the whole shebang. If there's a headline out there, I haven’t seen it, and I don’t plan to. I don’t know who won what seat or who’s in charge of what now. And honestly? I don’t need to know.

It’s only been one day, but I can already feel a sense of relief settling in. My world feels a little quieter, a little lighter.

I made the drive from Palm Springs back to our little winter home in Oceanside, CA. I’m feeling very happy to be back here for the next couple of months. After setting things up, Frank and I walked through the park to the beach to watch the surfers. I saw a pod of dolphins playing just off the beach, and marveled at the pelicans skimming along the waves like I always do.

The air smells like saltwater, and it’s good to be back.

There are numerous good coffee shops and restaurants within walking distance of our location, and I’m looking forward to next Tuesday when the little Mexican market down the road sells .69 cent tacos for the entire day.

So for the next two months I’ll be here, breathing in the salty air, working on my business and trying to enjoy the simple things—a good walk, a beach view, and tacos on Tuesdays. I’ll be sticking to a news-free approach for now, and I can already feel that it’s the right move for me. It’s not easy. In some ways I feel like I’m trying to overcome an addiction.

Sometimes, we have to put our sanity over party.

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