TV news can drain the life force of the most robust

I had to travel a good deal this week. Business meetings, staying in hotels, and too much driving but seeing different parts of the country.

In one hotel, Sky news was playing in the bar area. I ordered a meal, sat down with a pint of beer and wondered why they had the TV on. The news was overwhelmingly depressing. Death, disaster, war, unemployment on a 20 minute loop.

I finished my meal and moved to another part of the bar but no, there was a second TV screen putting out the same awful mix of soul destroying awfulness. There was no "and finally" moment as used to be delivered by the news at ten. No story to uplift the heart that was centred on human kindness.

No it was unremitting pain and suffering.

No extra bar sales that night! No reason to stay in that gloom.

I know that there is suffering.
I know that it is happening every day.

But if we allow ourselves to only see this side of life we will be like the poor unfortunate souls who took their life on the Paddington to Swindon trainline on Tuesday evening. Unable to see a way out, convinced that death is the only answer.

I removed myself from the bar, went back to my room and chose not to watch the TV and did something positive instead.

What about you? Will you keep allowing the media to poison your mind or will you decide to break free?