Political stories. Vaccine news. Criminal activity. Scrolling on any news site nowadays will reveal an endless supply of hatred, fear and negativity. The latest news has been skewed toward sharing these emotions with the public.
In modern media, there is an obsession with documenting the shortcomings of humanity. But who really wants to hear an incessant wail about how damaged, broken and lost we have become as a society?
A week ago, I was browsing Twitter, catching up on the latest happenings around the city and the nation. Story after story led my mood down a darker and darker path. After a while, I paused and asked myself: Have I seen any good news today? The answer, of course, was no.
I understand that there is a place for negative news. There are times when we need to be informed of the dire situations that are taking hold of our world.
Take, for example, news about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharing information about how to protect oneself and loved ones is necessary. Though these stories can feel like they lean toward the negative side, people do need to stay informed and learn how to stay safe.
The problem comes when these stories start to flood our newsfeed, when they spill over and drown out the good news, when they drench our mood in freezing negativity. Before anyone knows it, we are only looking for the bad.
When we only know to look for the bad, it becomes all that we can see. We start to see the bad in our neighborhoods, city and country. We search for selfishness in those around us. Without even realizing it, we forget to look for the good in people.
We forget about heroes like those in the military who make sacrifices for the nation, those who work tirelessly as first responders or those who are caring healthcare professionals.
We forget organizations like Care and Share Food Bank who fight against hunger. Those who reach out to the homeless population like the Springs Rescue Mission. The people who battle against animal abuse at the National Mill Dog Rescue.
We become blind to the good that people do all around us, every day. Because of this, we do not recognize what they do for us. We become indifferent to the good as we search for the bad.
This needs to change. Positive, uplifting and selfless acts still happen in the world and in our city. Acts of kindness, whether big or small, are important. Good news should be just as shared as bad news.
