Don't Watch the Bad News

When the boys were young, when the national news would come on TV, we would quickly tell them “That’s the bad news, let’s change the channel.” It was our way of protecting them from the gruesome images that that national TV news channels show. Honestly, I still turn the news off most of the time. I want to be informed, but I also want to keep my sanity, so a lot of times it is in my best interest to just change the channel.

Today marks my two year anniversary of my last day of radiation! THAT is cause for celebration. But, it also reminded me of the radiation zappers…. (The dear radiation therapists that zapped me with a ton of radiation). They were the greatest people, and during my 33 rounds of radiation, of course we got to know each other. One of the most interesting questions one of the “zappers” asked me was, “What news channel do you normally watch?” I instantly said, “I don’t watch the bad news… I watch Hallmark, as when you’re fighting cancer, you really need a happy ending.”

That question was such a safe way for them to ask me my political beliefs. I know they see a lot of patients every day, and only have a short time with each patient as there is a limit to the amount of radiation people can have. So, that question was their way of getting to know each one of us, without pushing our political buttons. Soon after I got done with radiation, I had to have a blood transfusion. The “zappers” said they heard my laugh and came over to the infusion room to say hi. (Yes, my laugh is really that loud… but it truly shows how great they were!)

It is crazy to think that I thought 2018 had “Bad News.” Obviously I had no idea that in 2020, The Hallmark Channel would even have COVID commercials. But, one thing I know for sure…. if we look around and find the good, the blessings and the surprises in each day… we can create our own happy ending.