The World Around You Does Not Define You. Find the Good.
I don’t make it a habit to open up the news first thing in the morning, but these are, for lack of a less overused word, ‘unprecedented times.’ We’re are looking dead in the face of what could have been predicted, and prevented, for our nation. One of the main topics of conversation in the world right now is freedom of speech and social media bans. And yet, there’s a very different story on many front pages, which would make many presume that we are seeing what ‘they’ want us to see. Whomever ‘they’ is at the moment.
(CLICK HERE TO SKIP THE HEADLINES AND HEAD TO THE GOOD NEWS)
When I search ‘latest headlines’ on Google this is the order of things, along with the headlines:
NBC News takes top billing on Google today with these headlines:
- PPP loan program reopens with revamped rules to stamp out fraud
- Live updates: House begins effort to remove Trump from office
- Trump may finally face real consequences for his actions, but it’s up to the GOP
- Father of slain Capitol officer hopes son’s death brings end to ‘lunacy’
- House Democrats to consider impeachment, 25th Amendment measures
- Pope Francis formally allows for more roles of women in the church
- On-duty Memphis police officer charged with kidnapping and killing a man
- U.S. to declare Houthis a terrorist group, sparking fears it will worsen Yemen crisis
- Peter King: How the Browns survived a weird Wild-card week to shock the Steelers
- Melania Trump makes first comments about attack on the Capitol
- Biden picks veteran diplomat William Burns as CIA director
- Covid live updates: Lawmakers may have been exposed to Covid-19 during riot lockdown
- ‘A crisis moment’: States, advocates brace for new fight over abortion rights
- Covid vaccine sites need to be ready for rare reactions, officials say
- Covid-hit Browns stun Steelers, roll into Divisional Round
- PGA pulls major 2022 tournament from Trump’s Bedminster days after deadly riot
- Pelosi says House will move on impeachment if other efforts to remove Trump fail
- Stripe payment processor boots Trump campaign after Capitol riot
- Warnock reflects on historic win, Capitol riots in first sermon as a senator-elect
Fox News came up second in the search with these headlines:
- Biden refuses to take position on impeachment of Trump as House Democrats push effort forward
- Melania Trump condemns Capitol violence, responds to ‘personal attacks’
- Lesley Stahl confronts Pelosi on her stimulus check ‘obstruction’
- Airlines addresses video of pilot threatening to ‘dump’ pro-Trump fliers
- Alternative social media platform Parler goes dark as Amazon suspends service
- Stocks pull back from record highs as second Trump impeachment push gains momentum
- Twitter shares sink after Trump’s account deleted
- Parler CEO speaks out on ‘Mornings with Maria’ about next moves after app is dropped from several platforms
- Bongino vows to fight Parler shutdown: ‘I’ll go bankrupt before I let this happen’
- Trump supporters, counter-protesters face off in San Diego; officers attacked
- SEE PICS: Divers make chilling discovery on sea floor while searching for crashed plane
- FBI seeks help finding ‘Confederate Flag guy’ from Capitol riots
- Sen. Rick Scott says what Democrats should be focused on rather than impeaching Trump again
- Manhunt for California inmates who escaped jail intensifies
- Hawaii Proud Boys leader seen smoking during Capitol riot to appear in federal court in Honolulu
- Tens of thousands without power as snow slams Gulf Coast
- Financial-tech company stops processing payments for Trump campaign website
- Biden’s rescue dog Major to receive ‘indoguration’ ceremony: ‘The world’s largest virtual party for dogs’
- AOC: ‘We came close to half of the House nearly dying’ during riots
- See why this Capitol cop is being hailed ‘national hero’
- DOJ arrests two men in Texas and Tennessee in connection with Capitol riots
- Iran to execute 2nd wrestler, sparking outrage from US State Department
- Winter storm barreling toward several states
- Police officer used squad car to kidnap man before killing him, Tennessee authorities say
- Domestic violence survivors taking matters into their own hands
- Israel announces new West Bank settlements days before Biden inauguration
- etc…etc… many more…
If you use duckduckgo.com as a search engine, you will get a similar, but very different result for this same search.
The site seems to go by some sort of ranking, as NBC, Fox, and CNN are listed at the top of the search, but before you see that, you’ll see a box with a selection of articles relevant to the day that feel much less biased. I’m not familiar with all of the sources, so I can’t really say that for sure…it’s challenging these days to find news articles that don’t have hidden biases or agendas behind. Even if they are there, we don’t tend to just blindly trust the sources. And there are so many. So, so many.
Look for the Good News.
I had to dig a little to find them, but there are good news stories coming out of the events of the past week to help us to see that good is still out there, despite the chaos.
This article shared by Today was the first on that I saw: After horrifying day, lone congressman quietly picks up garbage in the Capitol Rotunda. It tells of New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim’s physical and emotional response to the aftermath of the violence at the Capitol. You can read more good news on Today’s website, but this was the only article I found there that was relevant to recent headlines.
One that I had no intention of including in this post, but came across is a story I’ve been watching unfold on TikTok, and it’s a must read! Remember this commercial?
I’m so excited to see this story and that Cori’s idea came to fruition!
Check out how Cheerios updated us on the relationship between Grandma and the baby in the high chair!
My point reader, is that our nation is a hot mess, to put it mildly. Remember that the ‘state of the union’ and political turmoil does not define our day to day. Look for ways throughout the day to share love and kindness. Support each other. Lift each other up. Look for the good news stories. Find things to share with each other that make you smile.
We are not defined by the chaos in our world, or those around us.
Keep your mind, body, spirit, and faith To take a line from Olaf, “This is what we call ‘controlling what we can when things are out of control.”
Things that keep me grounded:
Morning routines: Coffee, bible study, mindless chores.
Staying in touch with friends and loved ones.
Finding ways to give back to my community.
Read 2 Corinthians Chapter 10.
Perhaps it will give you some comfort and reminders of who is control of our chaos.
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
2 Corinthians 10: 3-6
Show your strength with the Phoenix Collection for your hair.
What good can you share today? How do you stay grounded?
Much Love to you and yours!
Cindi
Self proclaimed Godmother of the Messy Bun Mafia.
